Maherin gives her life in a final lesson of sacrifice

Staff Reporter :

Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher and campus coordinator at Milestone College’s Diabari branch, tragically passed away on Monday night after bravely rescuing students during the devastating fighter jet crash at the school. She died while receiving treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) in Dhaka.

Witnesses recounted how Maherin, without hesitation, shielded several young students from the fire that erupted after a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed into the school’s Haider Hall canteen, sparking a massive blaze. At the time, students were either in class or preparing to head home.

Known for her daily routine of escorting young children across the school gate, Maherin responded immediately to the chaos, prioritising the safety of the children – many of whom were in nursery to Class III – before attempting to escape herself.

“She was taking the children out of the gate when the plane crashed in front of them,” her husband, Mansur Helal, told reporters. “Even though she was severely burned, she tried to save the children.”

Despite sustaining burns over 100 per cent of her body, Maherin managed to rescue around 20 students, according to eyewitness accounts. She was rushed to NIBPS in critical condition, where resident physician Dr Shaon Bin Rahman confirmed that she had suffered burns from head to toe.
Before losing consciousness, Maherin briefly spoke to her husband, describing the horrific moments of the crash and her desperate efforts to protect the children.

Her younger brother, Munaf Mujib Chowdhury, shared the heartbreaking news of her passing on social media, writing, “Mahreen Apu is no longer with us. My elder sister, who raised me like a mother.”

Maherin is survived by her husband and two young sons. Her family and the broader community have been deeply moved by her heroism, with tributes pouring in across social media, where she has been hailed as a “true hero” and “superhero teacher”.
“She loved her students like her own children,” said her husband. “She would stay late to help them, always with a smile.”

Her first funeral prayer (namaz-e-janaza) was held early Tuesday morning at Gauzal Azam Jame Masjid in Uttara Sector 13. Her body was later transported to her ancestral village in Bogulagari, Jaldhaka, Nilphamari, where a second janaza was held before she was laid to rest beside her parents in the family graveyard.

Maherin Chowdhury’s selfless actions will be remembered as a powerful testament to her dedication, courage, and love for her students – a legacy that will live on in the lives she saved.