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Milestone School and College on Tuesday (July 21) held a solemn remembrance ceremony to commemorate the victims of last year’s tragic aircraft crash.
The programme began at 10:00 am, with teachers, students and guests laying wreaths at a memorial altar built in front of the building where the crash occurred, paying tribute to those who lost their lives and those who were injured.
Teachers and students participated wholeheartedly in the commemorative event, while members of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and the Scout movement honoured the victims through a disciplined parade and ceremonial salute.
On this day of mourning and remembrance, teachers, students, and BNCC and Scout members observed a minute of silence and offered prayers for the eternal peace of the deceased.
Speaking to BanglaNews, a teacher at Milestone School said the authorities had arranged various counselling sessions to help students recover from the trauma caused by the tragedy.
“Most of the students have now overcome that trauma to a great extent,” she said.
Recalling the horrifying incident, teacher Farzana Kaberi said, “I was inside the classroom that day. The Haider Ali Building housed the primary section and the Bangla version. I had not left after classes and was talking with some students.”
“Just a minute before the crash, I spoke with Mahreen Miss. I told her that a few children had not understood the science lesson and that I wanted to explain it to them again. She replied, ‘Okay, go ahead.’ I then moved from the Sky Section to the Tulip-Golap Section, while Mahreen Miss remained in the Sky Section.”
“As soon as I reached the other section, there was a deafening explosion as the aircraft crashed. One of my students and I were thrown to the ground. After getting up, I told him, ‘Run to the back.’ I also shouted to the other students to run toward the rear of the building.”
“We immediately realised that an aircraft had crashed. Within moments, the area was engulfed in flames and thick smoke, turning everything dark. I cannot describe that day in words.”
“I stood there reciting the Kalima, believing death was imminent. My students were crying, saying, ‘Miss, do something! Please save us!’ But there was fire everywhere. I told them we would run in any direction we could, hoping we might survive even if we were burned.”
“When I looked toward the Sky Section, it had become a wall of fire. There was no escape from that side. The children said, ‘Miss, we can’t get out.’ I told them, ‘Pray to Allah.’ It was only by His mercy that we survived.”
After the ceremony, the institution’s founder and adviser, Colonel (Retd.) Nurun Nabi, said several commemorative programmes had been scheduled for the afternoon, which would be attended by Dr Zobaida Rahman. He also thanked the guests for joining the remembrance event.