Bangladesh is expected to advance plans to acquire 24 Chinese J-10CE multi-role fighter jets during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to China beginning Monday, as Dhaka and Beijing prepare to deepen cooperation across defense, infrastructure, trade and investment.

"We hope to sign the fighter jet purchase agreement by August this year," a senior government official told Daily Waadaa on condition of anonymity. The official said each aircraft is valued at approximately $40 million.

A Chinese delegation visited Dhaka last week to accelerate negotiations, while Bangladeshi officials are expected to hold separate meetings with China's foreign and defense ministers during the visit to finalise key details of the proposed acquisition.

The defense discussions form part of a broader agenda that officials say could significantly elevate Bangladesh-China relations.

Government officials expect the two countries to upgrade ties from a strategic partnership to a "community of shared future," a formulation likely to be reflected in a joint communique following talks between Prime Minister Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said up to 17 agreements, memoranda and communiques are expected to be signed during the visit.

Among the major initiatives under discussion is a joint feasibility study for the Teesta River barrage project.

The two sides are also expected to go forward with the plans for the modernization of Mongla Port, Bangladesh's second-largest seaport, which has long struggled with infrastructure constraints and underutilisation.

Bangladesh is also preparing to offer China a 110-acre Special Economic Zone in Mongla, according to government officials.

The industrial park had previously been earmarked for Indian investment and was to be developed by a Mumbai-based company under an earlier memorandum of understanding.

However, a Bangladesh Investment Development Authority official confirmed that Dhaka recently cancelled the agreement, clearing the way for Chinese investors.

The move follows the government's approval last week of an exclusive Chinese industrial park in Chattogram, where Beijing has pledged $500 million in investment.

"Our immediate priority is job creation," the senior official told Waadaa. "Attracting large-scale relocation of Chinese manufacturing to Bangladesh has the potential to generate tens of thousands of local employment opportunities."

Geopolitical balance

Officials acknowledge that the rapid expansion of ties with Beijing is likely to be closely scrutinized in New Delhi. Bangladesh and India share more than 4,000 kilometres of border and remain deeply interconnected through trade, security and transboundary river management.

Analysts have pointed to recent developments—including reported increases in push-in attempts across sections of the border and the widely discussed delay that left Adviser Zahed ur Rahman stranded at New Delhi airport—as indications of growing strains in bilateral relations.

Historically, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina made India the destination of her first major overseas visits, underscoring the importance of the relationship with New Delhi.

In contrast, officials say the current BNP-led administration is pursuing a multi-aligned foreign policy that seeks to maintain active engagement with Washington, Beijing, Moscow and New Delhi simultaneously.

The government has maintained the Agreement on Reciprocal Tariffs with the United States despite criticism from some left-leaning political groups.

Officials say Dhaka is leveraging the U.S. agricultural lobby as a critical building block to deepen economic ties with the world's largest economy by scaling up imports of American soybeans, corn, and cotton.

The outreach has extended to Moscow as well. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman visited Russia earlier this month to reaffirm long-standing bilateral ties.

Officials expect Moscow to support Bangladesh's planned bid to join BRICS, the economic grouping in which China plays a leading role.

Officials said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman intends to visit India in the near future in an effort to stabilise relations that deteriorated during the tenure of the Interim Government.

However, they acknowledge that the path toward repairing ties remains complicated.

"India is not making it easy," the senior official said, describing the treatment of Adviser Zahed ur Rahman at New Delhi airport as a "deliberate" diplomatic snub.