“The advisers were supposed to make a clear statement, including the actual number of the deceased, but they did not. We also hoped they would address the mistreatment of students and teachers by army personnel during the rescue operation, but they did not. That is why we surrounded them,” says a protesting student.

Students of Milestone College have besieged the law and education advisers after the duo arrived at the Diabari campus amid an ongoing protest, which started this morning (22 July), demanding justice and accountability in the wake of the tragic plane crash that killed 27 people, most of them children.

With a six-point charter of demands, the protest began around 10am at the Gol Chattar area in front of the college’s Diabari campus in Dhaka’s Uttara. More than 100 students have gathered, holding placards and chanting slogans.

Around 11am, Education Adviser CR Abrar and Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, reportedly accompanied by the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, arrived on the campus.

Their arrival sparked anger among the protesters, who surrounded them and began chanting “Bhua, Bhua” (fake, fake).

The two advisers and accompanying government officials eventually took shelter inside the college’s main administrative building, where a few student representatives joined them for a meeting that began around 11:15am.

“The advisers were supposed to make a clear statement, including the actual number of the deceased, but they did not. We also hoped they would address the mistreatment of students and teachers by army personnel during the rescue operation, but they did not. That is why we surrounded them,” one protesting student told The Business Standard, asking not to be named.

Around 12pm, an attempt was made to escort the advisers and government officials off the campus, but students, while continuing to chant “Bhua, Bhua”, did not let them leave the premises.

The advisers attempted to speak to the media but were denied access as protesters blocked interviews. Journalists were also barred from taking their statements.

At present, the demonstrators have moved inside the college campus, and the protest is ongoing while the two advisers remain besieged by the students.

Today’s protest began in the morning with six demands in a written declaration titled “Peaceful Student Movement”.

The demands are: publication of the correct names and information of the deceased; a complete list of the injured; an unconditional public apology for alleged assault on teachers by army personnel; compensation from the Air Force for each bereaved family; cancellation of old, risky aircraft; and reforms to Air Force training methods to ensure greater safety and humanity.

“Our protest is non-violent, but unyielding,” the declaration read. “Silence against injustice means support. Now is the time to stand for justice.”

Yesterday (21 July), a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into the institute’s primary school building shortly after takeoff, sparking a massive fire.

The plane had taken off from BAF Base Bir Uttom AK Khandker at 1:06pm and crashed due to a technical failure, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

So far, the deaths of 25 children and two adults, including the pilot and a Milestone teacher, have been officially confirmed. The deadly crash also left more than 170 people with various injuries.

However, students who witnessed the incident and helped first responders have claimed that the death toll is much higher than what has been officially announced.