Milestone School and College in Uttara has resumed academic activities for students of classes 9 to 12, marking a cautious return to normalcy after the devastating air force jet crash on July 21 that killed at least 34 people—mostly students—and injured over 150 others.
Regular classes began on Wednesday morning (Aug 6), following two days of group counselling and mental health sessions aimed at supporting the students' psychological recovery.
The institution had previously reopened on a limited scale on August 3 after a 12-day closure, prioritising mental health and emotional support for the grieving campus community.
Captain (retd.) Jahangir Khan, principal of Milestone College, acknowledged the ongoing emotional toll. “We have not yet fully recovered from the shock of this tragedy. However, with everyone’s support, we are trying to move forward,” he said.
“The decision to reopen came at the request of both students and parents, and we’ve introduced special counselling sessions to support them, he added.”
“The entire campus has been mourning since the crash,” said another Principal Mohammad Ziaul Alam. “Our current priority is helping students recover psychologically and bringing them back to a regular routine.”
College spokesperson Shah Bulbul said that while only grades 9 through 12 have resumed classes, the administration is actively communicating with the guardians of younger students and providing counselling to them as well.
“To help students gradually return to normal life, we reopened the campus in a limited capacity,” Bulbul added. “Students are meeting with teachers and spending time with friends, which is aiding their mental recovery.”
He expressed hope that academic activities for other classes would also resume soon.
In addition to academic activities, a medical camp supported by the Bangladesh Air Force is operating on campus, offering both physical and psychological consultations.
Teachers are closely engaging with students, providing regular counselling and ensuring access to private sessions with trained mental health professionals.
According to institution authorities, psychosocial counselling will continue for the next two to three months as part of the institution’s broader recovery efforts.
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