Shakib, Mashrafe mourn deaths in Milestone College plane crash

Staff Correspondent

Former captains and two Awami League MPs Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza expressed deep shock and condolences over the plane crash at Millstone College premises in Uttara, the capital, today. In addition, various sports organizations and other athletes of the country expressed their condolences.

An F-7 aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed in the Milestone College premises in the afternoon. So far, 20 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in the incident. Most of them are children. Unconfirmed sources say the death toll is much higher.

Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza wrote on Facebook, “The horrific accident that took place at Milestone School and College in Uttara has deeply shaken us all. I have no words to express my deep sorrow and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives. I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured.”

Shakib Al Hasan wrote in his post, ‘The tragic incident that happened at Milestone School today has deeply shaken us all. An educational institution, where dreams of the future are built, has today become a place of mourning and pain. In an instant, many young lives have been lost, countless dreams have been extinguished. As a father, as a Bangladeshi, and as a human being, I deeply feel this grief, this pain. The pain of each devastated family seems to be my own. Let us all pray for the peace of the souls of the deceased and for the recovery of the injured. Let us stand by each other in this difficult time.’

Bangladesh T20 captain Liton Das wrote on social media, “We are deeply saddened to hear the news of the tragic incident that took place at Uttara Millstone School and College. Our prayers and heartfelt love go out to those who have been affected. May Allah grant them peace, healing and strength.”
Former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza wrote, “The training plane crash in Uttara and the horrific accident that took place at Milestone School and College have deeply shaken us all. There are no words to express our deep sorrow and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives. We wish a speedy recovery to all the injured.”

Another former captain, Tamim Iqbal, wrote, “Everything that has happened and is happening is extremely painful. Our hearts are breaking, we are devastated.”
At the same time, he urged the media to blur the pictures of the injured children’s burnt faces and injuries. Finally, he wrote, “They are our children. Our prayers are with them.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said in a press release, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and casualties in the horrific plane crash in the Milestone College area of Dhaka. The BCB expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased. Our heartfelt prayers and best wishes to all those injured and affected by this tragic incident. A minute’s silence will be observed before the start of the Bangladesh-Pakistan game tomorrow.”

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal also expressed his condolences in a press release, saying, “I express deep shock and sorrow over the tragic incident of the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in the capital Dhaka.”

“My heart aches today for the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives and those who were injured and affected in this heartbreaking incident. This is a time of deep sorrow for the nation. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace and may the injured recover quickly. May Almighty Allah grant patience, strength and healing to all those who mourn.”