Dramatic footage circulating online appears to show the moment of the blast, with one person thrown into the air.
The horror incident happened at the Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram, Bangladesh, yesterday (9 September) morning.
Two Bangladesh Army soldiers were killed and two others, including an officer, seriously injured, according to local reports.
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The crew had been carrying out a live-fire assault exercise when a HEAT – High-Explosive Anti-Tank – round reportedly exploded inside the vehicle.
Local media reported that the shell travelled forwards but the resulting blast sent smoke and flames through the tank, injuring all four soldiers inside.
Three casualties were rushed by ambulance to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Chattogram.
The driver, Soldier Zubayer, was initially treated at the scene before also being taken to hospital.
Two of the injured soldiers later died while receiving treatment, as reported by Need To Know.
Army sources identified them as Gunner Rifat and Operator Siddiq.
Captain Mirza Mahyuddin and driver Zubayer remain in hospital receiving treatment.
Bangladeshi and Indian reports have identified the tank involved as a Chinese-origin Type 59.
The ageing design is based on the Soviet T-54 and has been used by the Bangladesh Army for decades.
The Bangladesh Army said in a statement yesterday: “The injured officer is being airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka for advanced medical treatment.
“Necessary measures are under way to investigate the cause of the accident.”
An investigation into the blast is under way.
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