In an age where innocence often defines childhood, three young boys—Arman, Nafi, and Proloy—demonstrated a level of courage that belied their years. All students of Class Six, they found themselves in the middle of an unimaginable tragedy—yet responded with extraordinary heroism.
It began like any other school day. The three friends were sitting in the school canteen, engaged in casual conversation. Suddenly, their chatter was interrupted by a deafening noise. A plane had crashed onto one of the school’s classrooms, causing instant chaos and fear. Without hesitation, the three boys abandoned everything and ran toward the scene.
What they encountered was a nightmare. Flames engulfed the classroom. Children were crying in agony, their bodies burned, their voices screaming for help. But fear did not stop these boys. It ignited their sense of duty.
Arman was the first to act. He saw a severely burned child whose body was on fire. Using his own schoolbag, he pressed down on the child to extinguish the flames. Despite the horror before him, he remained composed, guiding the child to safety.
Nafi witnessed children running in all directions—4 or 5 of them, their bodies scorched, screaming in pain. He spotted a little girl whose backpack had caught fire and melted into her back. Unable to remove it or even speak, she stood helpless. Nafi gently removed the burning bag and helped rush her, along with others, to safety in an emergency van.
Proloy worked on another side of the crash site. There, several of their friends lay wounded near the classroom, crying out for their mothers. Together with Arman and Nafi, he pulled them out—dragging, lifting, doing everything he could. During the rescue, one of the boys sustained burns on his back and a serious injury to his arm. Still, the pain didn’t stop them. Their mission was clear: save as many as they could.
Despite the extreme conditions—fire, smoke, screams, and personal injury these three young students managed to rescue nearly 18–20 classmates. Sadly, some victims later succumbed to their injuries. Others remain in hospitals, still fighting for recovery.
When asked by reporters what went through their minds during the incident whether they were afraid, whether they thought about their own lives, their response was deeply moving:
“We weren’t thinking about ourselves. We just knew we had to save the little children. We had to save our friends. We were crying while carrying their burned bodies into the vans.”
These boys are only 12 or 13 years old. But the bravery they displayed is beyond measure. It speaks not just of natural courage, but of values deeply rooted within them, values of empathy, friendship, and humanity.
It is also worth noting the role of their teachers. These students are guided by courageous and compassionate mentors like Mahreen Madam and Masuk Madam, whose teachings have clearly instilled a sense of duty and fearlessness in their students.
Thanks to Arman, Nafi, and Proloy, many lives were saved. In a moment where panic could have led to paralysis, these boys chose action. They turned tragedy into a story of hope and bravery.
One day, when their wounded friends return to school, fully healed, they will play together again. And perhaps in the midst of their games, someone will pause, look at them, and say:
“We knew you would come. We knew you would save us.”
About The Author:
Sabrina Khan Tandra. Contributor of the Dhaka Bureau.
