“Azrael Has Taken My Heart’s Core” – Grieving Grandfather Mourns Grandson Lost in Plane Crash

A devastating air crash at the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara, Dhaka, has claimed at least 19 lives, according to the latest official count. On Monday, 21 July, scenes of grief unfolded outside the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where Moslem Uddin, a man seated on the pavement, was crying out in anguish.

His heartbreaking lament echoed:

“Azrael has taken him... my heart’s core is gone. Azrael has taken my heart’s core.”

It was revealed that his grandson, Nahid Hasan, a student of Class Three, was among the deceased. Moslem Uddin is Nahid’s maternal grandfaher.

Incident Timeline and Immediate Impact

Shortly after 1:00 PM, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft lost control and crashed into one of the buildings on the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara. The crash resulted in an immediate outbreak of fire in both the aircraft and the impacted school structure.

Rescue and Medical Response

The Fire Service promptly initiated a rescue operation. Eight units, including teams from Uttara and nearby stations, were dispatched to bring the flames under control and to recover the injured and deceased.

More than 50 severely burned individuals were admitted to the National Burn Institute, all of whom are in critical condition. Additional injured students and civilians have been taken to various hospitals across Uttara.

Aircraft Background and Government Statement

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that the crashed aircraft was an F-7 BGI, a training fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force. The aircraft took off at 1:06 PM and crashed within minutes into the school premises. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Tawqir Islam Sagor, was gravely injured and is receiving medical care.

In a message of condolence, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow:

“I am profoundly saddened by the tragic crash of the Air Force’s F-7 BGI training aircraft.
The loss of lives, including air force personnel, students, guardians, teachers, and staff of Milestone School & College, is irreplaceable.
This is a moment of profound national grief.
I wish a swift recovery for the injured and have instructed authorities to prioritise this crisis with utmost seriousness.”

Victim Highlight: A Grandfather’s Cry

Among the 19 confirmed dead was Nahid Hasan, a Class 3 pupil. His grandfather’s lament has become symbolic of the grief engulfing families affected by this disaster.
The phrase he repeated –

“Azrael has taken my heart’s core” –
encapsulates the heartbreak faced by many who sent their children to school that day, not knowing it would be their last.

This incident has raised renewed concerns about aviation safety, particularly regarding training flights over populated urban areas. An official investigation is expected to be launched to determine both technical and operational failures that led to this national tragedy.