- ঢাকা
- শনিবার , ১৬ আগস্ট ২০২৫ , ভোর ০৫:০৬
In the wake of the recent aircraft crash near Milestone School in Uttara, Dhaka—an incident that has sparked public outcry and renewed scrutiny—Ehsan Fazlee Shamim, the Executive President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), has issued a strong public statement questioning the rationale behind allowing military flight training over densely populated urban areas.
“This tragic event compels us to reconsider why the headquarters and key bases of all three armed forces remain situated within such a heavily populated capital,” Shammim wrote on social media. His remarks have since gained traction across various civic forums, especially as public safety concerns mount.
Shammim further stressed the urgent need for a national dialogue on the future of Bangladesh’s defense infrastructure:
“We must ask ourselves: what kind of defense forces does our country truly need? Are our current military expenditures aligned with our actual strategic requirements and economic capabilities?”
He also cited international safety standards, noting that military flight training—particularly with aircraft—should be strictly conducted in uninhabited or sparsely populated areas. This reduces the risk of catastrophic civilian casualties and property damage in the event of an accident.
“How can such high-risk flight training still be allowed in Dhaka—a city teeming with millions of people? This goes against every international safety protocol,” he asserted.
In his statement, he demanded that all flight training operations be urgently relocated to coastal or remote regions, such as the country's southern belt or the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where open airspace and lower population density provide safer environments for both trainees and civilians.
The recent air crash near Milestone School—which narrowly avoided mass casualties among students—has intensified national conversations around urban airspace usage. Military officials have yet to issue a detailed statement regarding the incident or respond to Shammim’s call for relocation.
As Bangladesh continues to grow economically and demographically, urban planning experts and civil society leaders are increasingly echoing similar concerns. They point out the risks of housing high-risk installations—such as military bases and training zones—within or near residential and academic areas.
The government is now under increasing pressure to review existing military zoning policies, aviation safety measures, and civil-military coordination in light of this alarming event.
