Two external fuel tanks from a fighter jet dropped near a road in Nilnagar of Nabinagar upazila in Brahmanbaria around 11:00am yesterday, creating panic among locals.

They thronged the area to see the 14-15 feet long objects. Thinking that the objects might explode, they started panicking.

Bangladesh Air Force claimed that the two fuel tanks belonged to them.

Lt Col Rashidul Hasan, director of Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate, told The Daily Star yesterday that they were primarily assuming the fuel tanks dropped from the fighter aircraft F-7 due to a technical glitch.

On information, police recovered the tanks and took them to Nabinagar Police Station.

Chairman of Zinodpur Union Parishad Abdur Rouf said he visited the spot after the incident.

People could have been fatally injured if the tanks dropped into any home, he said.

Officer-in-Charge of Nabinagar Police Station Aslam Sikder said the fuel tanks appeared to be empty.