Church leaders mourn deaths in Bangladesh after a F-7 Fighter jet crashed into a school claiming 31 live and injuring 170 others.
Newsroom (23/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) A wave of grief and shock swept through Bangladesh’s capital on July 21, 2025, after a military F-7 fighter jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara district, claiming at least 31 lives and injuring more than 170 people. The majority of the victims were students, caught in the devastating impact and subsequent fire as they were leaving classes.
The crash sparked a deadly blaze that engulfed parts of the school, exacerbating the tragedy. Local health authorities reported that at least 76 of the injured are receiving treatment in hospitals across Dhaka, with over two dozen in critical condition. The scene in Uttara was marked by chaos and despair as anguished parents frantically searched for their children, moving between the crash site, hospitals, and morgues, according to The Daily Star.
A Parent’s Anguish
Sharif Ahmed, a father who was en route to pick up his child when the jet struck, recounted the harrowing experience to OSV News. “It was a terrifying moment I cannot express in words,” Ahmed said. “Children were coming out of the school with their bodies on fire, crying all around, parents were running around like crazy. I was also looking for my son. But when I found him unharmed, he was silent for at least 10 minutes, unable to say anything out of fear.”
Global Condolences
The tragedy drew condolences from global religious leaders. In a July 22 telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sorrow over the “loss of life” and entrusted the deceased to “the merciful love of the Almighty.” The Holy Father prayed for consolation for grieving families and healing for the injured, invoking “divine blessings of peace and strength” upon the school community and all affected.
Archbishop Kevin Randall, apostolic nuncio to Dhaka, also conveyed “profound sorrow” in a letter to the Bangladesh government. He extended condolences to bereaved families and the nation, offering “prayers and spiritual closeness” and asking for “eternal rest” for the departed, particularly the children, and healing for the injured.
The Bangladesh bishops’ conference issued a statement urging the government to provide comprehensive support for the injured and bereaved. Bishop Ponen Kubi, the conference’s secretary general, called for prayers and pressed authorities to implement measures to prevent future incidents, as reported by The Daily Star.
Protests and Demands for Accountability
In the wake of the tragedy, hundreds of students took to the streets near the crash site on July 22, demanding accountability, compensation for victims’ families, and an end to military training flights. The protests underscored the community’s frustration and grief as the nation grapples with the loss of so many young lives.
As Dhaka mourns, the crash has raised urgent questions about safety protocols for military operations near civilian areas. Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause of the crash, but the incident has left an indelible mark on the nation, with calls for justice and reform growing louder.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV news
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