Dhaka: Expressing deep shock over the incident of the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash on the Milestone School and College campus, Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said he has no words to express the grief. "They are all our children. They are gone forever. We are ensuring treatment for the injured. Everyone is making all-out efforts for them," he said in a video message following the tragic aircraft crash that killed at least 20 and injured over 150 people today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prof Yunus implored the public not to flood the hospitals, noting, "Everyone is rushing to the hospital. We request everyone not to crowd in the hospital, because it is not good for the injured... so everyone pray from afar." He described the plane crash as "unbelievable" and expressed his inability to fathom the tragedy. "I have no words to express my grief. How should I begin? I don't even understand that. People from all over the country like me are shocked today," he remarked.
In an emotion-choked video message, Prof Yunus conveyed his anguish over the children who perished in the fire resulting from the crash. "A training aircraft crashed on young children on the Milestone School and College campus. The children died in the fire. What will we answer the parents? What will we tell them? We cannot answer ourselves. The faces of unknown children keep coming to our eyes. The entire nation is speechless," he lamented.
Prof Yunus emphasized the lasting impact of the tragedy, stating, "To say we are shocked would be an understatement. The scars of this accident have not yet healed. Bodies are still arriving at the hospital. People are still dying in the hospital. Parents are still searching for where their children are. Will they ever be recognized again? Am I seeing my children among the bodies? There is no way to separate them."
Remembering the children, he assured, "We will definitely investigate this incident. But these innocent children will never come back." He expressed solidarity with the families of the injured children, saying, "We express our sympathy to all the parents, relatives, and friends of the children. All the children in Bangladesh are your children. Try to console your hearts. We are all with you. All the people of the country are with you."
He also announced a day of national mourning, stating, "We have declared a day of mourning for the deceased children. On the day of mourning tomorrow, we will all remember them together. We will pray for the peace of their souls. From today, everyone will pray for the forgiveness of their souls. May Allah grant you peace. We, all the countrymen, are praying for the deceased children. May Allah make these children dwellers in Paradise."