Case sought against Yunus, Asif Nazrul, 14 others over Milestone aircraft crash

A petition was filed with a Dhaka court on Thursday seeking directives to lodge a case against 16 individuals, including former Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, former Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, former Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and former press secretary Shafiqul Alam over the military aircraft crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara that left 36 people dead.

The petition was submitted by Usaimong Marma, father of student Ukkya Saing Marma, who was among those killed in the incident.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam recorded the complainant’s statement and kept the petition pending for further consideration, according to the plaintiff’s lawyer Advocate AKM Sharif Uddin.

Besides Professor Yunus, Asif Nazrul, Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Shafiqul Alam, the petition also named several former military and civil officials, including former Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Air Commanding Officer Morshed Mohammad Khayer Ul Afsar, and Officer Commanding Maintenance Group Captain Rifat Akter Ziku.

Other accused include governing body adviser of Milestone School and College Nur Nabi (retd), Principal Mohammad Ziaul Alam, Principal (Administration) Md Masud Alam, Principal of the school section Rifat Nabi, chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), and officials from the education and defence ministries.

The tragic incident occurred on 21 July last year when an FT-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College in Uttara, killing at least 36 people, including 28 students, and injuring many others.

Following the crash, a government probe committee was formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. The investigation report was later submitted to former Chief Adviser Professor Yunus on 5 November.

The petitioner has sought legal action against those named, alleging negligence and responsibility in connection with the deadly crash.