Bangladesh sends 1,100kg of mangoes to West Bengal, Tripura chief ministers

Bangladesh has sent 1,100 kilograms of mangoes to senior government officials in the neighbouring Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura as part of its annual goodwill initiative known as "mango diplomacy."

Of the total consignment, 500kg of mangoes packed in 100 cartons reached the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata today (1 July), diplomatic sources said.

The fruits will be presented to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, while the remaining cartons will be distributed among senior officials of the state government through the Bangladesh mission.

Separately, 600kg of Himsagar and Amrapali mangoes reached Agartala through the Akhaura Land Port in Brahmanbaria yesterday (30 June) for Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and other senior state government officials.

The consignment, packed in 120 cartons, was handed over to the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala after customs clearance for distribution among the recipients.

According to land port sources, Bangladesh sends mangoes to the Tripura chief minister and senior officials every year as a gesture of goodwill. In return, the Tripura government traditionally sends its renowned Queen variety pineapples to Bangladesh.

The latest consignment comes amid tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi over recent allegations of "push-ins" and "pushbacks" of suspected illegal migrants along the border.

Bangladesh first launched its "mango diplomacy" initiative during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina by sending the country's famed Haribhanga mangoes to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The practice has continued under the current government despite strains in bilateral relations.

Earlier, Bangladesh sent 1,000kg of Haribhanga mangoes to Modi as a gesture of friendship, while similar consignments have also been sent to neighbouring Indian states, including West Bengal and Tripura.