DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh has prepared a draft agreement to negotiate the purchase of 20 Chinese J-10CE multirole fighter jets at an estimated cost of $2.14 billion, as the government moves ahead with a major plan to modernize the Bangladesh Air Force. Government sources said the proposed acquisition would be financed over eight fiscal years, with the procurement process expected to run from the current 2026–27 fiscal year through 2034–35.

Ten of the aircraft are planned to meet existing operational requirements, while the remaining 10 would be used to establish a new fighter squadron within the Bangladesh Air Force. The development was disclosed after Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said Tuesday that the government was advancing the process of purchasing J-10 fighter aircraft from China.

$2.14 billion procurement plan

According to documents cited by government sources, each J-10CE is estimated to cost about $62.7 million. At an exchange rate of Tk123 to the U.S. dollar, that would put the price of each aircraft at roughly Tk7.71 billion. The 20 aircraft would cost approximately $1.256 billion, while additional expenditure would cover pilot and technical training, transportation and operational equipment.

The broader procurement package is estimated at approximately $2.14 billion, according to the documents. Bangladesh initially expected the procurement to be completed during the 2025–26 and 2026–27 fiscal years. More recent government documents, however, indicate that payments and implementation would continue through 2034–35. Defense sources said Bangladesh is seeking to receive six J-10 aircraft by 2027, with the remaining 14 aircraft delivered in phases.

Government-to-government purchase

The proposed purchase would be conducted either through a government-to-government arrangement with China or through direct negotiations with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), according to the documents. A committee formed to negotiate the purchase of J-10 aircraft and attack helicopters has already prepared a draft agreement and forwarded it to the Armed Forces Division.

The Bangladesh Air Force is currently evaluating the technical and financial proposals associated with the procurement. The modernization program also includes plans to acquire anti-drone systems, long-range radar, electronic warfare systems and passive defense systems.

New fighter squadron and air force infrastructure

Under the proposed acquisition plan, Bangladesh would establish a new multirole combat aircraft unit. The government is also working on restructuring elements of the country’s air warfare and field infrastructure, while some activities related to establishing an aerospace research and development complex are underway.

Documents also indicate that Bangladesh is pursuing land acquisition for the establishment of a full-fledged air base in Bogura, aimed at expanding Bangladesh Air Force flight and operational capabilities in the country’s northern and northwestern regions.

Why Bangladesh is considering the J-10CE

Bangladesh has been seeking to modernize its fighter fleet for several years. The country’s existing combat aircraft are aging, raising concerns over their ability to meet modern air-defense requirements. The J-10CE has attracted additional attention in Bangladesh following the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, when Pakistan deployed Chinese-made J-10C-series aircraft.

Pakistan claimed that its J-10s were used to shoot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafale fighters. India acknowledged losing aircraft during the conflict but did not publicly confirm the number or the specific aircraft involved.

International reporting has also examined India’s reported loss of Rafale aircraft during the fighting. The precise number and circumstances surrounding those losses remain subject to differing accounts. The conflict nevertheless drew international attention to the capabilities of China’s J-10C/J-10CE family of fighter aircraft.

J-10CE versus Rafale

The J-10CE is the export version of China’s J-10C and is designed as a multirole combat aircraft, capable of performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Bangladesh currently operates fighter aircraft primarily focused on air-defense missions, while the proposed J-10CE acquisition would provide a broader multirole capability.

The J-10CE is capable of supersonic flight and is designed for high maneuverability and modern aerial combat. Its advanced radar, electronic systems and weapons integration are among the features that have attracted interest from potential foreign buyers. The aircraft is generally considered a 4.5-generation fighter, while France’s Rafale is also widely classified in the 4.5-generation category.

Bangladesh has considered Western fighters

Bangladesh’s interest in modern fighter aircraft predates the current J-10CE proposal. Since 2016, Dhaka has considered a number of options for modernizing its combat fleet, including France’s Rafale, the European Eurofighter Typhoon and U.S.-made F-16 aircraft. French President Emmanuel Macron also promoted the Rafale during his September 2023 visit to Dhaka. The decision to pursue the J-10CE therefore represents a significant shift toward a Chinese platform for Bangladesh’s next-generation multirole fighter capability.

Broader military modernization

The fighter procurement is part of a wider effort to strengthen Bangladesh’s defense capabilities. According to the government, procurement initiatives are also underway for attack helicopters, VIP helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicle systems.

The proposed J-10CE deal would be one of Bangladesh’s largest military acquisitions and would further deepen the country’s longstanding defense relationship with China. For now, the procurement remains subject to negotiations, technical and financial evaluation and the necessary government approvals.

Orpi Ahmed: There is no need to elaborate on the contribution of expatriate Bangladeshis to the country’s economy. Remittances are one of Bangladesh’s major sources of foreign exchange. Every year, millions of Bangladeshis living abroad send substantial amounts of money to support their families, relatives and, ultimately, the country’s economy. These remittances not only help sustain the livelihoods of families back home but also play an important role in strengthening the country’s foreign exchange reserves and overall economy.

Recent statistics also highlight the strong flow of remittances. According to Bangladesh Bank data, the country received $18.94 billion in remittances during the six months from March to August 2026, compared with $16.74 billion during the same period a year earlier. This represents a 13.1 percent increase year-on-year.

Behind this achievement are millions of Bangladeshis working abroad. Expatriates in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Malaysia and other countries continue to send money home regularly. During the March-August period alone, Bangladesh received approximately $1.72 billion in remittances from the United States.

The question, therefore, is this: How effectively is the state providing easy, timely and dignified services to the people who are making such a significant contribution to the country?

This question has become increasingly important because expatriate Bangladeshis depend on embassies and consulates for a wide range of services, including passports, national identity cards, birth registration, consular assistance and document attestation. For someone living abroad, even a minor complication in accessing a government service can turn into a major source of inconvenience.

The government has recently announced several positive initiatives in this regard. Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman told Parliament that improving passport and national identity card services for expatriate Bangladeshis—making them faster, easier, more transparent and technology-driven—is among the government’s top priorities. At Bangladesh missions where e-passport services have been introduced, applicants can submit applications online, schedule biometric enrollment at convenient times and track the progress of their applications.

This is certainly encouraging. But the reality on the ground is even more important.

At present, NID services are available at 27 Bangladesh missions in 17 countries. The government plans to gradually expand these services to 41 countries. This means that many Bangladeshis living abroad still do not have direct and convenient access to NID-related services.

Take the United States as an example. The Bangladesh Consulate General in New York provides online applications, appointments and biometric enrollment facilities for e-passports. Procedures for applying for NID services are also available. However, while new NID applications are accepted, NID correction applications are not processed at the consulate, according to information published on its website.

This brings us to the central question: Is providing a service the same as making that service accessible and convenient? If an expatriate has to visit an embassy or consulate repeatedly for a routine document, wait for long periods, or spend months waiting for coordination with a government office in Bangladesh, then how much of the promised benefit of digital services is actually reaching the people?

Consular services for expatriate Bangladeshis should not be viewed merely as an administrative responsibility. They should be treated as a matter of citizens’ rights and a responsibility of the state. When an expatriate represents Bangladesh abroad, contributes to the national economy and regularly sends foreign currency home, the relationship between the citizen and the state should not be limited to the moment when remittances are sent. When a passport expires, an NID contains an error, a birth certificate or another document is needed, or a citizen faces a legal or administrative difficulty, receiving assistance from the state should also be regarded as a right.

Another issue deserves attention. Services for expatriates cannot remain concentrated only around major cities where diplomatic missions are located. For Bangladeshis living across a geographically vast country like the United States, mobile consular camps can be an effective solution. If such services are organized more regularly and systematically across different states, many expatriates could avoid travelling long distances to reach a consulate.

The Bangladesh Consulate in Florida, for example, has also been issuing notices regarding consular tours. At the same time, the mechanism for resolving complaints needs to become more effective. The government has said that online complaint-management systems are in place at Bangladesh missions and that officials will be assigned to ensure the timely resolution of complaints.

If these initiatives are implemented effectively, they can strengthen the relationship between the state and its expatriate citizens. But the biggest requirement is a change in mindset. Expatriates should not be viewed merely as a source of remittances. They are Bangladeshi citizens, potential investors, members of families back home and important representatives of the country abroad.

The rise in remittances is undoubtedly good news for Bangladesh. But whether the quality of services provided to expatriate Bangladeshis is improving at the same pace is now an equally important question.

If Bangladesh wants to sustain and increase the flow of remittances, it must also maintain the confidence of its expatriate citizens. Trust is built not only through financial incentives, but also through timely services, transparency, dignity and accountability. As the country expects greater contributions from its expatriate citizens, the state must also take greater responsibility for ensuring better services for them.

An expatriate’s money is an asset to the country, but an expatriate’s trust is an equally valuable national asset. Protecting that trust should now be one of the state’s greatest responsibilities.

— Columnist, Elmhurst, New York