Two soldiers killed and three injured in tank shell explosion at Hathazari field firing range; families receive support
On September 9, 2026, a tank firing exercise involving the 15 Independent Armored Squadron at the Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram resulted in an accidental shell explosion due to a technical malfunction. The incident caused the deaths of two Bangladesh Army soldiers, Gunner Tasnim Rifayat and Abu Bakar Siddiqui Pias, and left three others injured. One critically injured officer, Captain Mohiuddin Mirza, was transferred to Singapore for advanced medical care. On September 15, the Prime Minister met with the families of the victims to provide financial compensation and pledged ongoing support, including the construction of houses and employment for the widows.
Involved entities
2 RecordsMilitary Tank (15 Independent Armored Squadron)
Hathazari Field Firing Range
Named victims
5 Records| Name/Occupation | Age/Gender | Status | Injury description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Bakar Siddiqui Pias Soldier | Dead | — | |
| Md. Tasnim Rifayat Gunner, 15 Independent Armored Squadron, Bangladesh Army | 28 · Male | Dead | — |
| Captain Mirza Mohiuddin Army Officer | Injured Critical Transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment | — | |
| Soldier Operator Siddik | Injured | — | |
| Soldier Zobayer | Injured | — |
Abu Bakar Siddiqui Pias
Md. Tasnim Rifayat
Captain Mirza Mohiuddin
Soldier Operator Siddik
Soldier Zobayer
Agencies deployed
Local Administration
District or Upazila level government authorities
Prime Minister met with the families of the deceased on September 15 to provide financial aid and pledged ongoing support, including the construction of houses and employment for the widows.
Bangladesh Army
National military force for land-based operations and disaster response
ISPR confirmed the deaths and stated that an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. The injured officer was airlifted to Dhaka and subsequently transferred to Singapore for advanced medical treatment.
Note: Investigation ongoing.