Jump to content

Towkir Islam Sagar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Towkir Islam Sagar
Native name
তৌকির ইসলাম সাগর
Born(1997-11-09)9 November 1997
Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Died21 July 2025(2025-07-21) (aged 27)
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Cause of deathJet crash
Allegiance Bangladesh
Branch Bangladesh Air Force
Years of service2019–2025
Rank Flight Lieutenant
UnitNo. 15 Squadron
Known for2025 Dhaka fighter jet crash
Alma materPabna Cadet College
Bangladesh Air Force Academy

Towkir Islam Sagar (Bengali: তৌকির ইসলাম সাগর; 9 November 1997 – 21 July 2025) was a military pilot of Bangladesh Air Force.[1][2][3] He was the pilot of the F-7BGI fighter jet that was involved in the 2025 Dhaka fighter jet crash, where the aircraft crashed into the Milestone College campus on 21 July 2025 at approximately 1:17 pm (BST).[4][5]

Sagar took off from BAF Base Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker at Kurmitola, Dhaka on training schedule and soon, attempted to steer the malfunctioning aircraft away from the urban zone.[6][7] His tragedy resulted in a significant number of deaths and injuries on the ground, becoming one of Bangladesh's deadliest aviation incidents.[8][9]

Early life and education

[edit]

Sagar was born on 9 November 1997 in the village of Sapura in Rajshahi district to Tohurul Islam, a Cargo businessman and Saleha Khatun. He had one younger sister, Tasnia Islam Srishti, a medical student.[10] Sagar studied in Rajshahi Government Laboratory High School till seventh grade and completed high school at Pabna Cadet College in 2015. He was enlisted to the Bangladesh Air Force Academy on 22 December 2016 and was commissioned as flying officer on general duties (Pilot) branch on 1 December 2019. Sagar's parent squadron was No. 15 Squadron stationed at BAF Base Matiur Rahman.[11]

Military career

[edit]

In Sagar's truncated career, he was trained in the basic flying training course with No. 11 squadron and a basic jet and fighter conversion course at the No. 15 squadron. He reportedly logged over 100 hours of flight time on PT-6 trainer aircraft and another 60 hours on F-7BGI fighter aircraft. Sagar furthermore completed an "operational training in aerospace medicine (Fighter)" course in India.[12] He was promoted to flight lieutenant in 2024 and was posted as adjutant in the No. 35 squadron at BAF Base Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker.[13][14][1]

2025 Dhaka jet crash and death

[edit]
Main article: 2025 Dhaka fighter jet crash

On 21 July 2025, Sagar was scheduled for his first solo mission on a Chengdu F-7BGI. He took off from the BAF Base Bir Uttam AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at approximately 1:06 PM for a routine training flight.[15] Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a fatal mechanical failure and crashed at Milestone College.[16] Sagar was recovered from the cockpit alive but in critical condition. He was airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka, where he died of his injuries in the intensive care unit around 4:00 PM that afternoon. The air force later formed a high-level committee to investigate the cause of the accident.[17]

Personal life and legacy

[edit]

Sagar married a lecturer at BRAC University a year before his death. The couple had their formal wedding reception in February 2025. A funeral parade was held with full military honours at the Kurmitola Parade Ground in Dhaka Cantonment on 22 July 2025. The chiefs of the Bangladesh Army and Air Force, along with a representative of the Navy Chief, paid their respects by placing floral wreaths on his coffin.[18][19]

His body was then flown to Rajshahi. After a second namaz-e-janaza at the Rajshahi District Stadium attended by thousands, he was laid to rest with state honours at the Sapura Graveyard.[20][21][22]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b ফ্লাইট লেফটেন্যান্ট মোঃ তৌকির ইসলাম এর ফিউনারেল প্যারেড অনুষ্ঠিত. Inter-Services Public Relations (Bangladesh). 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Who was the pilot on Air Force F7?". The Daily Star. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Dhaka jet crash: Who was the pilot of Bangladesh Air Force's F-7 aircraft?". Hindustan Times. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Pilot tried to avoid disaster by steering crashing jet away from populated area: ISPR". The Business Standard. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Milestone tragedy: Flight Lt Towkir Islam Sagar laid to eternal rest". Dhaka Tribune. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Pilot tried to take the plane to a less populated area: ISPR". Daily Sun (Bangladesh). 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Towkir tried to steer plane away from populated areas: ISPR". The Daily Star. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Bangladesh students demand accountability after deadly air force jet crash". Al Jazeera English. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  9. ^ "At least 20 dead after air force jet crashes into Bangladesh school". BBC. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  10. ^ তৌকিরের প্রথম একা বিমান ওড়ানোর আনন্দে ছিল পরিবার, বিধ্বস্তের খবরে কান্নার রোল. Prothom Alo. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Parents of pilot killed in Uttara jet crash flown to Dhaka". Dhaka Tribune. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Who was the pilot on Air Force F7?". Daily Sun (Bangladesh). 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Dhaka Jet Crash: Who Was Towkir Islam Sagar, Pilot Of Bangladesh Air Force's F-7 Aircraft?". Zee News. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Dhaka plane crash: Pilot Towkir laid to rest". Prothom Alo. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  15. ^ আজই প্রথম একক ফ্লাইট ছিল ফ্ল্যাইট লেফট্যানেন্ট তৌকিরের. The Daily Ittefaq. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Uttara aircraft crash: Dream flight turned into last flight for the pilot". prothom Alo. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Flight Lt Tawqir Islam killed in Dhaka plane crash". Somoy TV. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Funeral parade held for Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam". The Daily Star. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  19. ^ "A funeral parade for Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar was held at the Kurmitola Parade Ground". The Financial Express (Bangladesh). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Pilot Towkir laid to rest in Rajshahi". New Age (Bangladesh). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Jet crash: Flight Lieutenant Towkir got married a year ago". Bdnews24.com. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  22. ^ "A promising life cut short in the skies". The Daily Star. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Towkir_Islam_Sagar&oldid=1302500846"