Milestone School and College has now become synonymous with tragedy. The institution’s premises remain crowded with curious onlookers and media cameras.

Twelve days after the incident, the school gates opened, but the familiar sight of waiting parents was absent. The usual liveliness of children running and shouting was missing. Rows of coconut trees in front of the building where the fighter jet crashed still stand, bearing the scars of fire-scorched leaves.

Many students of the damaged building are now listed among the injured or deceased. Grief-stricken parents and relatives continue to mourn. Even after twelve days, a deep shadow of mourning and a sense of irreparable loss hang over the entire institution. Many students wiped away tears as they returned to campus, while mourning teachers shared memories with choked voices during a ‘Milad Mahfil’.

July 21 changed the atmosphere of the entire institution. That day claimed the lives of many students. The campus remains silent in the void left behind. Students who lost classmates stared repeatedly at the charred building—some cried quietly, while others sat in corners hiding their faces.

On Sunday (August 3), a memorial meeting was held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Many teachers, students, and parents broke down in tears. The venue featured black banners, photos of the deceased, flowers, and candles. The entire campus seemed to carry the burden of painful memories silently.

Principal of Milestone College, Captain (retd.) Jahangir Khan said, “We have not yet recovered mentally from the shock of this accident. However, with everyone’s support, we are trying to move forward again.”

He added, “The campus has been reopened at the request of students and parents, and special counselling sessions have been launched for them.”

Another principal, Mohammad Ziaul Alam, said there would be no classes on Monday either. However, teachers would speak with students to help prepare them mentally. Regular academic activities would resume on Wednesday. Additionally, a three-month counselling programme is planned to support students' mental well-being.

He said, “At this moment, no one is missing. Those who could not be identified immediately were confirmed through DNA testing. The list of the deceased has been published on the college’s website and Facebook page to avoid confusion.”

Principal Ziaul Alam also said that a previously scheduled exam would take place tomorrow. Most parents want the students to gradually return to their studies.

After nearly two weeks of closure, students stepped onto campus today. But their eyes and faces reflected fear and the agony of survival. Their return to the familiar campus felt like a silent funeral procession.

A ninth-grade student had witnessed the horrific scene up close that day. Returning to the campus today, the terrifying memory resurfaced. “The plane crashed right in front of me, tearing through a student’s body. The body split in two instantly. The fire service arrived within ten minutes. That horrific image still keeps me awake at night,” the student said with frightened eyes.

Nasima Akter, a 40-year-old woman from Mirpur 10, came to see the burnt school building. Standing in front of it, she broke down in tears. “I have a 12-year-old son who studies at a madrasa. If he gets even a slight fever, I panic. How are the mothers of the deceased children enduring this grief!” she said in a tearful voice.

Beside the classrooms, the notice board now displays only information about the plane crash. The entire board is covered with a single urgent notice—the list of the injured and deceased.

College spokesperson Shah Bulbul said, “To help students gradually return to normal life, we have decided to reopen the campus in a limited capacity. Students from grades 9 to 12 are meeting with teachers and spending time with friends, which is helping with their mental recovery.”

He also mentioned that a medical camp, supported by the Air Force, is currently operating at the college, where students are receiving consultations for both physical and mental health. Teachers are staying close to the students and offering regular counselling. Anyone who wishes can also speak privately with a counsellor.

To determine the cause, responsibility, and extent of the damage from the plane crash at Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka, the government has formed a nine-member investigation commission. Members of the commission are currently visiting the institution and conducting their inquiry and assessment.