A screengrab shows the Chinese-made Type 69-IIM main battle tank during a calibration exercise at the Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram on Wednesday, shortly before a catastrophic internal ammunition explosion killed two Bangladesh Army soldiers and critically injured a captain.

Newsman, Dhaka

Two Bangladeshi soldiers were killed, and a captain was critically injured on Wednesday (September 9) morning following an inside-turret ammunition blast during a live-fire exercise at the Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram, local media and military sources confirmed.

While public reports in local media and the official statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) broadly confirm that two personnel were killed and an officer was injured during tank shelling, an internal military incident report provides critical operational details omitted from initial public releases.

The vehicle involved was identified as a legacy Chinese-made Type 69-IIM main battle tank, which Bangladesh acquired in 1989 during the Cold War. According to the internal document, the explosion occurred around 11:30 AM during a pre-assault calibration firing sequence conducted by the 11th East Bengal Regiment (11 EB).

ISPR confirmed that the blast originated inside the tank during the live-fire calibration sequence. Three military personnel were trapped in the turret at the time of the explosion. Although Bangladesh upgraded these aging tanks to the Type 69-IIG standard in the late 2000s, adding explosive reactive armor and 105mm rifled guns, the fleet still relies on a legacy Cold War-era design.

According to military classification databases, including Tank Encyclopedia, Army Guide, and Military Factory, the Type 69 main battle tank was developed in the late 1960s as an iteration of the earlier Type 59 platform. Mass production of the baseline Type 69 commenced in the late 1970s, and China officially introduced the vehicle to the public in 1982.

This development marked a significant advancement in China’s armored vehicle capabilities. Following technical revisions, production of export variants known as the Type 69-II and Type 69-IIM started between 1984 and 1986. In the mid-1980s, China exported nearly 2,000 units globally, and as a result, Bangladesh acquired its fleet in 1989.

An official military inquiry remains underway to determine whether the catastrophic detonation was caused by defective legacy ammunition or a mechanical malfunction within the tank’s breech system. The internal report names a Captain of the 77th BMA Long Course alongside two soldiers, whose condition was listed as critical before the deaths were confirmed by medical personnel.

Both injured soldiers later succumbed to their injuries at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chattogram. The captain suffered severe injuries and is being airlifted via helicopter to CMH Dhaka for specialized medical care. Public reports in Bangladeshi media such as Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and TBS have cited ISPR’s confirmation of the casualties and the ongoing investigation into the explosion.