Staff Correspondent:

The government designated the city corporation graveyard in Sector 12, Uttara, as the burial site for the victims of the fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College. The initial plan was to bury the victims in new graves over old ones. However, none of the victims’ families agreed to bury their loved ones there. Instead, they took the bodies back to their ancestral villages for burial.

Moinuddin, the caretaker of the graveyard, said, “We had heard that 20 people would be buried here. We waited until 11 pm last night, but no one came. No graves were dug, although our staff was prepared. Later, we learned that the families had taken the bodies to their home districts for burial.”

Farzana Konika, elder sister of Abdullah Mohammad Shamim, a student killed in the crash, told journalist “We buried Abdullah next to our father in Shariatpur. Father and son are now resting side by side.”

She added, “We are three siblings. We lost our father just seven months ago. Now we’ve lost our 14-year-old brother. After receiving his body, we immediately left for Shariatpur.”

On Monday afternoon, a fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka. The death toll has now risen to 32.

Following the tragedy, the government declared Tuesday a national day of mourning and designated a burial site for the victims.

According to the Press Wing of the Chief Advisor’s Office, Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus designated the city corporation graveyard in Uttara Sector 12—located near Milestone School—as the official burial site. The graveyard will be preserved in memory of the victims.