THIS is disparaging that families of the victims of the air force fighter jet crash on the Milestone School and College campus are left in the lurch, with little government support, and the investigation of the incident pending. The training aircraft, FT-7 BGI, crashed into the campus immediately after take-off on July 21, killing 35, including schoolchildren, teachers and the pilot. The Milestone authorities reported that 61 injured students, teachers and administrative staff were admitted to hospital. Of them, 10 are still undergoing treatment while many require frequent hospital visits for follow-up. At a press conference on September 23, families of the victims alleged that no one but the Milestone authorities maintained any contact as they struggled to ensure long-term treatment for the injured. They made an eight-point demand at the press conference, which included a credible investigation of the incident and proper compensation for the deceased and injured victims. On August 12, several Milestone guardians held a demonstration demanding justice and asked for the relocation of the school or the air force runway from the area and the closure of coaching businesses at the institution. It is morally reprehensible that a business-as-usual approach is maintained to a tragedy that shocked the nation.
Immediately after the accident, the government set up a nine-member commission to investigate the accident and it was tasked to examine the cause of the tragic crash, assess damage and casualties and determine the responsibilities. Although the commission was expected to submit its report in a month, the deadline for submission has already been extended twice. While the official investigation is still under way, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on August 7 reported that there are 525 illegal structures within the obstacle limitation surface zone and despite notices from the aviation authorities, no action was taken to remove the structures. The fighter jet that crashed brings to the fore the risks posed by ageing military hardware; and experts have already urged the government to consider decommissioning all such aircraft from its fleet. Many have questioned the logic of operating such training over a city such as Dhaka when the air force has the option to conduct such training from bases in Jashore or Chattogram. The continued sufferings of the injured in accessing resources demonstrates the government鈥檚 unpreparedness in responding to such moments of crisis. A protocol should have already been developed there to systematically respond to the need of the hour.
The government should, under the circumstances, ensure that the investigation of the training aircraft crash is completed with no further delay and made public. It should also ensure an immediate financial and medical support for the deceased and injured victims.