Bangladesh is set to deepen its strategic and economic engagement with China, with discussions underway for the purchase of advanced fighter aircraft and expansion of bilateral cooperation, ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ongoing visit to Beijing. According to diplomatic and intelligence sources, Bangladeshi representatives have held preliminary talks to finalise meetings with Chinese defence and foreign officials regarding the proposed purchase of 24 J-10CE multirole fighter jets and 20 locomotive engines. The deal for the aircraft, estimated at around $40 million per unit, could reportedly be finalised by August.
Chinese delegations that visited Dhaka last week sought clarity on whether Bangladesh would face constraints under its Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) with the United States, particularly regarding defence and commercial engagements with third countries. Bangladeshi officials, however, indicated that despite maintaining close ties with Washington, there would be no obstacles to proceeding with the planned procurement from China.
During his visit, Prime Minister Rahman also met Alois Zwinggi, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, at the Dalian International Conference Center. Diplomatic sources suggest that a formal bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang could lead to a joint declaration elevating ties to a “Shared Future Partnership.”
In parallel, Bangladesh is pursuing broader economic cooperation with China. The two countries are expected to sign around two agreements, 15 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and several declarations during the visit. Both sides have also agreed to jointly advance the modernisation of Mongla Port, Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport, alongside the development of a 110-acre Special Economic Zone (SEZ) designated for Chinese investment.
Significantly, Bangladesh has withdrawn a previous agreement with an Indian firm for the Mongla SEZ, making the land available to Chinese investors. This follows the recent approval of an exclusive Chinese industrial park in Chattogram, where Beijing has pledged an investment of $500 million.
Officials say Dhaka is attempting to balance its foreign policy by maintaining active engagement with major global powers, including the United States, China, Russia, and India. While strengthening ties with Beijing, Bangladesh is also seeking to enhance trade relations with Washington, particularly by increasing imports of key agricultural commodities such as soybeans, corn, and cotton.
At the same time, Dhaka is looking to stabilise its relationship with New Delhi, which has experienced strains in recent months. Analysts point to issues such as border tensions and diplomatic frictions as challenges that will need careful management going forward.
Bangladesh has also been expanding its engagement with Moscow, with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman recently visiting Russia to reaffirm bilateral ties. Diplomatic sources indicate that Russia is likely to support Bangladesh’s bid to join BRICS, a major economic bloc in which China plays a leading role.
As Dhaka navigates an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, its growing partnership with Beijing — spanning defence, infrastructure, and trade — is expected to draw close attention from regional and global stakeholders.
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