National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has criticized the government’s handling of events following the deadly plane crash at Milestone School and College, claiming the crisis deepened due to inaction and a lack of timely communication.
Speaking at a press conference Tuesday evening at the party’s temporary office in Rupayan Tower, Dhaka, Nahid said the situation “spiralled out of control” because the authorities failed to take appropriate steps soon after the crash.
“If the government had acted responsibly, these events could have been avoided,” he told reporters. “Now, we all need to stay alert so that no one takes advantage of the unrest.”
Following the crash on Monday, protests erupted in Dhaka and spread to other regions as students gave the interim government a list of six demands.
The situation grew more tense when students accused officials of covering up the real number of deaths and ignoring the clear safety risks of using such old military aircraft.
Nahid said the government should have been more transparent in the immediate aftermath. “There should have been a clear, public statement addressing the casualties and the next steps.”
Also Read: Protests at Dhaka Secretariat Leave 70 Injured, Situation Now Under Control
He also voiced support for the six-point student demand list and urged both demonstrators and citizens to remain patient while authorities respond. During the press briefing, he alleged that members of the banned Awami League faction were seen among protest groups at the Secretariat, potentially raising tensions.
Dr Tasnim Jara, NCP’s Senior Joint Convener, emphasized the psychological toll the incident may have taken on survivors and witnesses. “Those affected need access to mental health support,” she said. “And there has to be a fair, impartial investigation into what went wrong.”
She also called for improvements in disaster readiness. “The government should look into making emergency response teams more effective. What happened at Milestone should never happen again.”
So far, the government and law enforcement have offered no response to the NCP’s accusations. In that official vacuum, public pressure is mounting, with victims’ families leading the charge for answers and justice.
