I agree with you regarding threat assessment is the need of the hour. Perhaps it has been done and BAF has concluded we do not need an effective air force. If that is the case they should vocalise it. Perhaps BDs sovereignty is best maintained through economic prosperity and tight embrace of the global economy. It has worked for germany and Japan post WW2.
But I disagree that we do not need fighters in numbers. Our region is unpredictable and we are surrounded by dysfunctional fascist hedgemonistic states. We need a stong defense to guarantee our position.
we need something that doesn't break the bank, has high sortie rates (to make up for any quantitative advantage of the opponent).
Two possible candidates stand out
1. J-10CE
2. Gripen
We could field the J-10 in numbers and as a back up from western sanctions (Human rights etc) and have MRO facilities.
The gripen is a no-brainer (BAF wasting time evaluating other western stuff),
Gripen could be used for maritime strike. And J-10C could be tasked with interception and QRA duties.
Only issue I see is the limited range of both aircraft, do we really need double engine ''deep strike'' fighter though?