Bangladesh Tank Blast: Chinese Bloggers Blame Pakistani Ammunition, Claims Unverified

A tank explosion during a military exercise in Bangladesh that killed two soldiers has triggered a social media blame game, with Chinese military commentators speculating that Pakistani-made ammunition, rather than the Chinese-origin tank itself, may have been responsible for the blast. The incident occurred on September 9 during a live-fire exercise, but Bangladeshi authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact cause of the explosion. The claims circulating online remain unverified.

The tank involved has been identified in several reports as a Chinese-origin Type 59, while some accounts have described it as a Type 69-IIG. Bangladesh’s armoured fleet largely consists of Chinese-origin platforms, and the Type 59 has been part of the country’s military inventory for decades. The tank was originally developed by China as a version of the Soviet T-54A main battle tank and has also been used by countries including Pakistan, Zambia and Chad.

Following the explosion, several Chinese bloggers and military experts on social media platform Weibo suggested that the ammunition used in the tank could have been supplied by Pakistan. Some specifically pointed to high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds manufactured by Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah, Punjab. Screenshots of posts shared on X showed Chinese accounts attempting to shift attention towards the ammunition, although the authenticity of some of the social media claims could not be independently verified.

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The speculation was partly linked to an earlier incident in Bangladesh in 2024, when a Chinese Type 59 Durjoy tank exploded at the same firing range, killing one Bangladeshi soldier. Chinese experts reportedly travelled to Bangladesh to examine that incident, and Chinese defence commentators later claimed that the investigation had pointed to allegedly substandard tank ammunition manufactured by POF. However, there is no confirmation that the findings from the earlier case are connected to the latest explosion.

Pakistan’s Ordnance Factories are known to manufacture HEAT and other types of tank ammunition, and Bangladesh has reportedly received ammunition supplies from Pakistan. According to reports, Bangladesh placed an order in 2024 for 40,000 rounds of ammunition, including 2,000 rounds of tank ammunition. The order came as Dhaka sought to expand its military relationship with Islamabad following the political changes in Bangladesh after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

The latest allegations have emerged as Bangladesh attempts to deepen defence ties with both China and Pakistan. Retired Lieutenant General D.P. Pandey urged Bangladesh to exercise caution rather than rely unquestioningly on claims from either side. While concerns over ammunition quality have also been raised in Pakistan in the past, the cause of the September 9 blast remains officially undetermined, and neither the Bangladeshi government nor the military has confirmed the social media allegations.

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