A report by leading Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune has cautioned that Bangladesh's deepening defence and infrastructure ties with China — including a proposed purchase of 20 to 24 J-10CE fighter jets worth several billion dollars — risk creating long-term strategic dependency if not carefully balanced against the country's broader economic and development priorities.

What the Proposed Deal Involves

Discussions are reportedly underway following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's planned visit to China, with the agenda covering possible acquisition of J-10CE multirole fighter jets, military technology cooperation, and Chinese financing for major infrastructure projects. China is marketing the J-10CE as a modern 4.5-generation fighter jet, equipped with an AESA radar, advanced missile systems, and multi-role combat capabilities. However, according to the report, a section of international defence analysts believes the aircraft's actual combat effectiveness has not yet been fully proven in operational conditions.

Questions Over Combat Readiness and Safety Record

The report flagged concerns about the J-10CE's track record. In 2016, Yu Shu, China's first female J-10 pilot, died in a training crash involving the aircraft in Hebei Province. Beyond the safety record, the report stressed that procuring a fighter jet is not simply about acquiring the platform — it also demands long-term investment in pilot training, spare parts supply chains, maintenance systems, and technical support, all of which would tie Dhaka to Beijing for decades.

The Dependency Risk

Growing reliance on a single country's military technology, the report warned, could generate sustained strategic pressure over future spare parts supplies, maintenance support, and upgrade cycles. This is not a hypothetical concern — several nations that have built defence ecosystems around a single supplier have found themselves constrained in foreign policy choices when bilateral ties deteriorate. The report underlined that Bangladesh's long-term national security rests not on weapons alone but on the foundations of a robust economy, technological advancement, a skilled workforce, and strong social institutions.

Economic Priorities vs. Defence Spending

The report raised pointed questions about whether a multi-billion-dollar defence expenditure is justified for a developing country where critical sectors — healthcare, education, skills development, and employment — continue to face significant resource gaps. It asked directly: if the same capital were channelled into technological education, the health system, or workforce skills, which investment would generate greater long-term national strength?

What the Report Recommends

The Dhaka Tribune report concluded that Bangladesh's defence modernisation should be pursued in alignment with the country's economic capacity, technology development trajectory, and human resource growth — not ahead of them. It urged Dhaka to carefully assess whether deeper defence engagement with China constitutes a necessary strategic investment or lays the groundwork for structural dependency before any deal is finalised.