Farewell to 20 students in plane crash: Teacher Mahrin laid to rest next to parents

The funeral of teacher Mahrin Chowdhury, who saved the lives of 20 students in the crash of an Air Force training plane at Milestone School and College in Uttara, capital, has been completed. On Tuesday (July 22), she was buried next to her parents’ graves in the family graveyard next to the field of Bogulagari School and College in Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, her village home, at around 4 pm. Mahrin Chowdhury is the daughter of the late Muhith Chowdhury of Bogulagari Chowdhurypara, Ward No. 3 of Jaldhaka Municipality in Nilphamari. Mahrin is the coordinator of classes 3 to 5 of the Bengali medium branch of Milestone School and College. Recently, she was elected the president of the ad hoc committee there with the dream of doing development work at the village’s Bogulagari School and College, said her husband Mansur Helal. It is learned that Mahreen was on her daily duty of handing over the students to their guardians on Monday afternoon. Suddenly, the training plane crashed into the building, and fire spread all around. Despite her burnt body, she continued to try to get 20 students out safely. Later, she was taken to the ICU of the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a serious condition. She died around 7:30 pm. Meanwhile, social media (Facebook) was filled with mourning over her death. Nilphamari District Chhatra Dal President Maruf Parvez Prince, student Arpita Binte Zaman and many others posted emotional posts highlighting her bravery and sacrifice. Mahreen’s own district residents called her ‘proud’.