Two Bangladesh Army soldiers were killed and an officer seriously injured after a Chinese-origin Type 59 tank reportedly exploded during a field firing exercise in Chattogram on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at the Hathazari Field Firing Range while troops were conducting live-fire training, according to Bangladesh's Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR).

The two soldiers inside the tank died following the explosion, while the injured Army officer was being airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka for advanced medical treatment.

The tank involved in the incident was reported to be a Type 59, a Chinese-origin main battle tank operated by the Bangladesh Army.

Authorities have not yet established what caused the explosion. The ISPR said steps were being taken to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.

No additional details regarding a possible technical malfunction, ammunition-related incident or other cause were immediately available.

The Type 59 is based on the Soviet-designed T-54 and was produced in large numbers by China, with variants subsequently exported to several countries.