Tue Jul 22 04:04:45 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, written from a neutral perspective with a focus on the key facts:
**Tragedy in Dhaka: Air Force Jet Crash Kills 31, Sparks Protests**
**DHAKA, BANGLADESH – July 22, 2025** – At least 31 people, including 25 children, have died after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka on Monday. The F-7 BGI fighter jet, reportedly experiencing a “mechanical fault” shortly after takeoff, struck a two-story building belonging to Milestone School and College in the Uttara area of the city.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that 165 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment in hospitals across Dhaka. Authorities have expressed concern that the death toll may rise.
On Tuesday, thousands of students protested at the crash site during a visit by interim government officials. The students demanded an accurate accounting of the deceased, compensation for the victims’ families, and the immediate decommissioning of outdated and unsafe training aircraft used by the Air Force.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser CR Abrar, and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were confronted by the protesting students and were forced to take shelter in a school building. Students alleged that authorities are deliberately hiding the true death toll.
The government has refuted these claims, stating in a statement from Yunus’ office that the casualty figures are not being concealed. Officials report that 20 bodies have been handed over to families.
Bangladesh observed a national day of mourning on Tuesday, with the national flag flown at half-mast. The Supreme Court and lower judiciary also observed a minute of silence.
The crashed aircraft was identified as a Chinese-manufactured Chengdu J-7/F-7, deliveries of which were completed in 2013 following a 2011 contract. The Bangladesh Air Force has launched a high-level investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
According to the ISPR, the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas before the crash. The incident is one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Bangladesh’s history, recalling a 1984 crash that killed 49 people.