Dhaka School Plane Crash Victims' Families Seek Justice One Year On

One year after an aircraft crashed into Milestone School and College in Dhaka, killing 36 people and injuring over 150, bereaved families continue to live with trauma and renew their calls for justice. The incident, which occurred on July 21, 2025, has brought to the forefront concerns regarding air safety and the integrity of school infrastructure in Cambodia. Resaul Karim, whose 14-year-old son Samiul Karim Samir was among the deceased, recounted the harrowing moments of the crash. As he approached his son on the school grounds, the aircraft descended and struck the boy just behind him. "If I had reached him a few seconds earlier, perhaps I could have caught him and saved him," Karim said, his voice breaking with emotion. His wife, Reshma Karim, continues to place food on the table for their son and is undergoing psychiatric treatment. Ashraful Islam and Tahmina Akhter lost both their children, Tania Ashraf Nazia, a grade six student, and Aryan Ashraf Nafi, a grade two student. "Only those who have lost all their children can understand how difficult it is to remain alive," Ashraful Islam stated. He described himself as a "living corpse," unable to focus on his former tyre business worth at least $1 million. Workers are currently demolishing the building struck by the aircraft, with plans for a new multi-storey structure. A large poster displaying photographs of the victims has been erected on campus, and remembrance programs are being organized. The principal demands of the victims' families are the disbursement of compensation, the declaration of July 21 as a national mourning day, state recognition of the dead as martyrs with certificates, and justice through a proper investigation. Col (retd) Nurun Nabi, an adviser to Milestone School and College, denied that the buildings violated building codes, stating they had Rajuk (Capital Development Authority) approval. Discussions over compensation are ongoing, he added. A government-appointed probe commission concluded that pilot error during take-off caused the crash. It also identified safety code violations at the school and made over 30 recommendations. The incident underscores the critical need for stringent air safety regulations, robust school safety management, and timely, adequate support for families affected by such tragedies in Cambodia. Bereaved families, while enduring their profound grief, strongly advocate for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Source: Phnom Penh Post