People in Dhaka light candles for victims of the US-Bangla air tragedy that killed at least 51 people including 28 Bangladeshis when the plane crashed at Kathmandu airport on March 12. (Photo: Stephan Uttom/ucanews.com)
Bangladesh observed a “national day of mourning” on March 15 for those killed in a plane crash in Nepal this week.
Special prayers were held in mosques, churches, temples and pagodas across the country, while the national flag flew at half-mast at government offices, education institutes and diplomatic missions across the world.
A Kathmandu-bound private US-Bangla airplane, Flight BS211, with 71 people on board crashed into a field and burst into flames on March 12 at Nepal’s Tribhuvan international airport, one of the world’s most dangerous airports.
At least 51 people, including 28 Bangladeshis were killed, making it the worst aviation disaster involving a Bangladeshi aircraft.
In Dhaka and other parts of the country, mourners placed floral wreaths and lit candles in front photographs of the Bangladeshi victims.
Holy Rosary Church, the country’s largest Catholic parish in Tejgaon, central Dhaka, also joined mourners with special prayers and a Holy Mass.
“We are heartbroken over the accident and loss of lives. Hundreds of our parishioners have attended prayers and Mass over last couple of days to pay tribute to the victims, and for speedy recovery of the survivors,” parish priest Father Kamal Corraya told ucanews.com.
The cause of the accident remains unknown.