Saturday, 02 August, 2025
Sajjad Sadi, a Grade 10 student at Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara, remains deeply traumatized after witnessing the horrific deaths of his schoolmates in Monday’s devastating plane crash.
“I still hear the screams and cries of the children,” Sadi said, tears welling in his eyes. “‘Save me, my body is burning!’ Some were begging desperately to be taken to the hospital,” he recalled, his voice heavy with anguish.
The Milestone campus, usually filled with laughter and chatter, was transformed into a scene of unimaginable horror, pierced by the desperate cry of a child: “Save me, I am on fire!”
Flames engulfed young bodies. Some students, badly burned and bleeding, stumbled out, searching frantically for their parents and guardians. Sadi watched in helpless horror as flesh melted from limbs. Many unconscious victims were carried out, wrapped hastily in whatever cloth was available, then rushed into ambulances.
“There were around 300 to 350 students and at least 16 teachers inside the building. One part was completely consumed by fire, while thick, choking smoke filled the rest,” he said.
Support staff on the ground floor were also caught in the blaze, sustaining injuries.
Sadi had been standing just two yards from the building when the aircraft struck — mere minutes before the school’s dismissal bell. Instead of the usual end-of-day bustle, he witnessed a nightmare unfold.
“I saw six students and two teachers escape unharmed. But then… 16 bodies were carried out right before my eyes,” he said, his voice breaking. “One body was so badly burned, it was impossible to tell whether it was a boy or a girl.”
Reflecting on the trauma, Sadi said, “Today, I saw how fiercely people fight to survive. I’ve never seen such pain and suffering up close.”
As thick smoke billowed from the wreckage, the outside world responded with chaos and despair. Thousands gathered outside the school gates. Panicked parents searched desperately for their children — some tearfully reunited, while others clung to hope, rushing between hospitals in anguished anticipation.
Rescue workers and volunteers battled the flames and choking smoke, spurred on by the heart-wrenching cries of the injured. Announcements over loudspeakers called for blood donors, and many rushed to hospitals in government vehicles to donate, determined to save lives.
What should have been a place of learning and laughter was left engulfed in silence, smoke, and sorrow.
Meanwhile, the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute released a list of 32 people injured in the crash. Most are children aged between 10 and 13, identified mostly by single names.
Six patients are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Nafis, Shamim, Shayan Yusuf, Mahia, Afnan, and Samia.
Among them, Nafis has suffered burns over 95 percent of his body. Two students, Erickson and Mehrin, have sustained 100 percent burns. Thirteen-year-olds Nazia and Mahtab each have burns covering 80 percent of their bodies.
Fifteen-year-old Makin has burns across 62 percent of his body, while 14-year-olds Ayan and Masuma each have 60 percent burns. Others suffer from burns ranging from 5 to 55 percent, including Tasnia (35%), Arian (55%), Ashraful Islam (15%), Rohan (50%), and many more.
The scale of the suffering is heartbreaking, with each percentage reflecting a young life scarred by the tragedy.
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Sajjad Sadi, a Grade 10 student at Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Uttara, remains deeply traumatized after witnessing the horrific deaths of his schoolmates in Monday’s devastating plane crash.
“I still hear the screams and cries of the children,” Sadi said, tears welling in his eyes. “‘Save me, my body is burning!’ Some were begging desperately to be taken to the hospital,” he recalled, his voice heavy with anguish.
The Milestone campus, usually filled with laughter and chatter, was transformed into a scene of unimaginable horror, pierced by the desperate cry of a child: “Save me, I am on fire!”
Flames engulfed young bodies. Some students, badly burned and bleeding, stumbled out, searching frantically for their parents and guardians. Sadi watched in helpless horror as flesh melted from limbs. Many unconscious victims were carried out, wrapped hastily in whatever cloth was available, then rushed into ambulances.
“There were around 300 to 350 students and at least 16 teachers inside the building. One part was completely consumed by fire, while thick, choking smoke filled the rest,” he said.
Support staff on the ground floor were also caught in the blaze, sustaining injuries.
Sadi had been standing just two yards from the building when the aircraft struck — mere minutes before the school’s dismissal bell. Instead of the usual end-of-day bustle, he witnessed a nightmare unfold.
“I saw six students and two teachers escape unharmed. But then… 16 bodies were carried out right before my eyes,” he said, his voice breaking. “One body was so badly burned, it was impossible to tell whether it was a boy or a girl.”
Reflecting on the trauma, Sadi said, “Today, I saw how fiercely people fight to survive. I’ve never seen such pain and suffering up close.”
As thick smoke billowed from the wreckage, the outside world responded with chaos and despair. Thousands gathered outside the school gates. Panicked parents searched desperately for their children — some tearfully reunited, while others clung to hope, rushing between hospitals in anguished anticipation.
Rescue workers and volunteers battled the flames and choking smoke, spurred on by the heart-wrenching cries of the injured. Announcements over loudspeakers called for blood donors, and many rushed to hospitals in government vehicles to donate, determined to save lives.
What should have been a place of learning and laughter was left engulfed in silence, smoke, and sorrow.
Meanwhile, the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute released a list of 32 people injured in the crash. Most are children aged between 10 and 13, identified mostly by single names.
Six patients are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): Nafis, Shamim, Shayan Yusuf, Mahia, Afnan, and Samia.
Among them, Nafis has suffered burns over 95 percent of his body. Two students, Erickson and Mehrin, have sustained 100 percent burns. Thirteen-year-olds Nazia and Mahtab each have burns covering 80 percent of their bodies.
Fifteen-year-old Makin has burns across 62 percent of his body, while 14-year-olds Ayan and Masuma each have 60 percent burns. Others suffer from burns ranging from 5 to 55 percent, including Tasnia (35%), Arian (55%), Ashraful Islam (15%), Rohan (50%), and many more.
The scale of the suffering is heartbreaking, with each percentage reflecting a young life scarred by the tragedy.
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