Monday, 04 August, 2025
Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, the young Bangladesh Air Force pilot killed in Monday’s devastating jet crash in Dhaka, had been married just a year ago. His wife, a lecturer at BRAC University in the capital, is now left grieving a future shattered far too soon.
Family members shared the heartbreaking details with reporters as they gathered at Towkir’s family home in Sector 3 of Rajshahi’s Uposhohor area, struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Towkir, also known as Towkir Islam Sagar, hailed from Kansat in Chapainawabganj, though his family now lives in a rented flat in a multi-storey building called “Ashroy” in Rajshahi’s Sapura. He is survived by his father, Taherul Islam, mother Saleha Khatun, sister Srishti, and brother-in-law.
A promising young officer, Towkir studied up to Grade 7 at Rajshahi Government Laboratory High School before moving on to Pabna Cadet College. His dream of flying came true when he joined the Air Force, a path that would ultimately demand the highest sacrifice.
Earlier on Monday, an F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Diabari area, killing Towkir and 18 others, and injuring at least 164—many of them schoolchildren.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the jet had taken off at 1:06pm from BAF Base Bir Uttam AK Khandker in Kurmitola as part of a routine solo training mission. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a mechanical malfunction.
In his final moments, Towkir is believed to have made an “all-out effort” to steer the aircraft away from densely populated zones—an act of courage that likely saved many more lives, the ISPR said.
As news of the crash reached Rajshahi, a wave of shock swept through the community. Relatives and neighbors began arriving at the family home, where hope and heartbreak mingled in equal measure.
The owner of the house, Atikul Islam, recounted, “Towkir’s family had been filled with pride and joy knowing he would be flying solo for the first time. But by afternoon, the news turned to horror—they heard the jet had crashed, and that Towkir was being treated at CMH in Dhaka.”
Clinging to the belief that their son was still alive, the family expressed their wish to be by his side. The Air Force arranged a helicopter to fly them to Dhaka. Around 4:30pm, Towkir’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law were taken to Rajshahi Shah Makhdum Airport and flown to the capital.
They left Rajshahi believing they would find him fighting for life. But by the time they reached Dhaka, the worst had come true.
In Rajshahi, a once-proud home is now filled with silence, sorrow, and the memories of a young man whose dreams soared high—but were cut tragically short.
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Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, the young Bangladesh Air Force pilot killed in Monday’s devastating jet crash in Dhaka, had been married just a year ago. His wife, a lecturer at BRAC University in the capital, is now left grieving a future shattered far too soon.
Family members shared the heartbreaking details with reporters as they gathered at Towkir’s family home in Sector 3 of Rajshahi’s Uposhohor area, struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Towkir, also known as Towkir Islam Sagar, hailed from Kansat in Chapainawabganj, though his family now lives in a rented flat in a multi-storey building called “Ashroy” in Rajshahi’s Sapura. He is survived by his father, Taherul Islam, mother Saleha Khatun, sister Srishti, and brother-in-law.
A promising young officer, Towkir studied up to Grade 7 at Rajshahi Government Laboratory High School before moving on to Pabna Cadet College. His dream of flying came true when he joined the Air Force, a path that would ultimately demand the highest sacrifice.
Earlier on Monday, an F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Diabari area, killing Towkir and 18 others, and injuring at least 164—many of them schoolchildren.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the jet had taken off at 1:06pm from BAF Base Bir Uttam AK Khandker in Kurmitola as part of a routine solo training mission. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft suffered a mechanical malfunction.
In his final moments, Towkir is believed to have made an “all-out effort” to steer the aircraft away from densely populated zones—an act of courage that likely saved many more lives, the ISPR said.
As news of the crash reached Rajshahi, a wave of shock swept through the community. Relatives and neighbors began arriving at the family home, where hope and heartbreak mingled in equal measure.
The owner of the house, Atikul Islam, recounted, “Towkir’s family had been filled with pride and joy knowing he would be flying solo for the first time. But by afternoon, the news turned to horror—they heard the jet had crashed, and that Towkir was being treated at CMH in Dhaka.”
Clinging to the belief that their son was still alive, the family expressed their wish to be by his side. The Air Force arranged a helicopter to fly them to Dhaka. Around 4:30pm, Towkir’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law were taken to Rajshahi Shah Makhdum Airport and flown to the capital.
They left Rajshahi believing they would find him fighting for life. But by the time they reached Dhaka, the worst had come true.
In Rajshahi, a once-proud home is now filled with silence, sorrow, and the memories of a young man whose dreams soared high—but were cut tragically short.
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