Student-led protests erupted across Bangladesh on Tuesday after the deadly crash of an F-7BGI fighter jet left 31 people dead, including several students. Demonstrations began at Milestone College in Dhaka and quickly spread to at least five other divisions, with students issuing a six-point demand to the interim government.
In Uttara, the epicenter of the protest, students locked the gates of Milestone College, surrounding visiting government advisers and blocking exits. The crowd demanded answers. Tensions rose. Police, RAB, and intelligence personnel remained stationed across the campus as the situation escalated.
Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, Education Adviser CR Abrar, and the chief adviser’s press secretary were trapped inside the school grounds after students cut off their motorcade’s route at Diabari. They eventually sought shelter in Building 7, while protesters held their ground outside.
What began as a planned sit-in at 9 a.m. was disrupted after an army unit declared protests illegal using loudspeakers near the Diabari roundabout. Students defied the order, regrouped by mid-morning, and confronted the advisers upon their arrival.
Chants rang out. Placards appeared. Then came the demands.
The six-point student charter included the following:
- A full list of those killed in the crash
- Verified details of the injured
- Compensation for families of the victims
- Replacement of old military training aircraft with safer alternatives
- A full review of military training systems
- A public apology from military officers accused of assaulting teachers
The advisers agreed to meet with several student representatives inside Building 5. After emerging shortly before 1 p.m., Dr. Nazrul addressed the crowd.
“Your demands are entirely legitimate,” he said. “On behalf of the government, I assure you that we will meet every one of them. Please have faith in us.”
He also spoke of his personal sorrow, saying he stood there not just as a government official but also as a grieving guardian.
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The interim government’s press wing later issued a formal statement acknowledging all six demands. But that didn’t calm the crowds. By the afternoon, protesters had blocked the Diabari crossing again, forcing the advisers to remain on campus.
Elsewhere in Dhaka, unrest spread to the Secretariat. Around 2:30 p.m., a student group marched to the complex, calling for the resignations of Adviser CR Abrar and Education Secretary Siddiq Zubair.
Chaos erupted at 3:40 p.m. when a crowd of protesters stormed Gate 1, their angry chants of “Shame, shame!” and “Fake advisers must go!” filling the air.
There was a sudden eruption—first the deafening blast of sound grenades, then clouds of tear gas. Moments later, police advanced with batons held high. The crowd broke apart, then came together again, lost in a haze of panic and noise.
In the chaos, you could see students falling, some being helped away toward ambulances. At the same time, rocks flew from the heart of the protest, felling officers who were caught in the barrage.
It seems the message was heard. Just twenty minutes later, Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam took to Facebook to announce that Education Secretary Siddiq Zubair had been fired.
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The capital couldn’t contain the fury. From Chittagong to Jessore, students flooded the streets. In Dinajpur, the anger boiled over when protesters padlocked the education board’s main gate, bringing the massive Dhaka highway to a dead stop until police finally intervened.
Comilla saw hundreds march from Pubali Chattar to the education board headquarters. They locked the main gate for nearly 90 minutes before dispersing.
In Jessore, students surrounded the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum outlining their demands.
Rallies in Sylhet and Chittagong followed similar patterns. Roads were blocked. Demonstrations swelled. Time moved forward, yet the unease refused to fade.
The protests were driven by a recurring concern among students: the continued use of outdated military aircraft.
So far, there’s no clear timeline for implementing the promised changes. Protesters say they’re waiting. Watching. And if needed, they’ll be back.
