Bangladesh Air Force Rules Out Relocating Dhaka Fighter Jet Base

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 28th July 2025, 5:06 PM

Bangladesh Air Force Rules Out Relocating Dhaka Fighter Jet Base

The Bangladesh Air Force has affirmed that there are no current plans to relocate the fighter jet base from Dhaka, as it is deemed vital for safeguarding the capital’s airspace.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday (28 July) at the old PSC building of the Aviation University in Tejgaon, Air Commodore Shahidul Islam stated that the base plays a crucial role in national security. He noted, “Operating fighter jets requires extensive space, and maintaining this base in Dhaka is essential for the capital’s air defence. Many global capitals also host similar airbases.”

The media briefing was convened in light of the tragic fighter jet crash on 21 July, when a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft crashed into a building of Milestone School & College in the Diabari area of the capital.

Summary of Statements and Developments:

Topic	Details
Fighter Jet Base	No plan to relocate from Dhaka; essential for capital’s air security.
Air Commodore’s Remarks	Fighter operations need large space; base’s presence is globally comparable.
Press Conference Venue	Old PSC Building, Aviation University, Tejgaon.
Air Force Coordinator	Air Commodore Md Mizanur Rahman shared the official statement.
Air Force Response to Tragedy	Deep condolences expressed; full support promised to families of the victims.
Investigation on Communication	High-level inquiry launched to examine whether pilot maintained contact with Air Traffic Control. Preliminary findings confirm communication was ongoing till the last moment.
Death Toll	34 confirmed dead so far, most of whom were children.
Injuries	34 injured, receiving treatment at: – National Burn Institute (22) – CMH (11) – National Institute of Mental Health (1)
School Impact	Principal Jahangir Alam reported 538 out of 738 students were present on the day of the crash.
School Infrastructure Note	Ground floor grills were installed to ensure child safety, especially after land elevation.
School Reopening	No fixed reopening date; plans to resume education as soon as possible.

The Air Force expressed its heartfelt gratitude to all members of law enforcement who participated in the rescue operation following the crash.

This incident is one of the deadliest military aircraft accidents in the nation’s history, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause and assess future preventive measures.