Following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government, the newly formed administration in Bangladesh has been progressively aligning itself with Pakistan and China. In a significant geopolitical development, Bangladesh is preparing to acquire advanced J-10CE multirole fighter jets from China. The new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tariq Rahman, is scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Li on June 25 and President Xi Jinping on June 26 during a two-day official visit to Beijing. Dhaka expects to advance negotiations and finalise an agreement for 24 fighter jets by August 2026, aiming to substantially modernize the Bangladesh Air Force.
Bangladesh will become the second country after Pakistan to purchase the J-10CE, which is the advanced export version of China’s Chengdu J-10C fighter jet. Estimated at roughly $40 million (over ₹330 crore) per aircraft, defense experts warn that this deal could introduce a “two-front threat” for India. The strategic shift is further complicated by Bangladesh’s decision to reopen the Lalmonirhat airbase (BAF Station Lalmonirhat)—a World War II-era Allied airfield—with Chinese assistance. Situated in northern Bangladesh, this airbase is strategically close to India’s sensitive Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck) and lies just 12 to 15 kilometers from the Indian border, where infrastructure upgrades like new fighter hangars are already being implemented.
The Indian government is closely monitoring these developments along the border due to the heightened national security implications. Addressing the matter, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh noted in the Lok Sabha that New Delhi has taken cognizance of the reports regarding BAF Station Lalmonirhat. While a briefing by the Bangladesh Army’s Director of Military Operations indicated there are currently no active plans to utilize the base for military operations, India maintains a vigilant stance. Concurrently, the regional defense landscape features other vital updates, including the arrival of India’s 4th S-400 missile squadron from Russia, and the historic allocation of the indigenous 5th-generation AMCA fighter jet project to three domestic private entities.
