Two years ago, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, entered into negotiations in this direction with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. These were articulated around about fifteen Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 omnirole combat aircraft. Despite good relations, it now seems certain that the talks have not yielded much convincing results. The Asian press is increasingly insisting that India's supplier countries are being diplomatically pressed not to arm Bangladesh. Diplomatic relations between the two neighbors are not good, against a backdrop of inter-religious tensions.
Yet the Bangladesh Air Force was clearly in favor of the Rafale.
For what reason would the BAF be in favour of Rafale?
India operates it and we know the French will take India's side due to economics.
Also, BAF needs a qualitatively superior fighter to the Rafale and the upcoming UK version with the Mk. 2 AESA radar would have little trouble defeating Rafales more often than it lost. I would not want to be an IAF pilot in a Rafale when facing a BAF Typhoon in this configuaration as my aircraft is inferior in air-combat to the Typhoon in every way.
At this stage 2 squadrons of 36 Typhons woould give BAF total air supremacy over the MAF and a credible deterrent over the IAF.