By Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh

A family grieving a child should not have to encounter images of that child’s suffering every time they open their phone.

On 3 August 2025, the High Court directed authorities to ensure that victims’ faces were blurred in photographs and videos of the Milestone School and College jet crash before publication across mainstream, digital and social media. The directive followed a public interest writ petition that I filed and argued.

The petition raised concerns about the distress caused to families by the continued circulation of graphic images of deceased and injured children.

For me, this matter carries a clear message: dignity must remain central to how we report and respond to tragedy.

Journalists have an essential role in documenting events, examining failures and pursuing accountability. Those responsibilities can be fulfilled while protecting victims from unnecessary exposure. Editors, content creators and individual social media users should consider the people behind every image before deciding to publish or share it.

Blurring faces is an important safeguard. Responsible judgment also means asking whether a graphic image needs to be published at all.

The children affected by the Milestone tragedy deserve to be remembered with care. Their families deserve space to grieve, and survivors deserve compassion as they rebuild their lives.

Before sharing distressing content, pause. Consider whose suffering it shows, who might encounter it, and whether sharing it serves a meaningful public purpose.

Read the report: The Daily Star — High Court directs blurring of Milestone victims’ images and videos

Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed
Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh

General information and commentary; not legal advice.