New Delhi: Cartons filled with Haribhanga mangoes which are especially grown in the Rangpur district of Bangladesh, reached Agartala, on Monday as a goodwill gesture from Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb.
Bangladesh Assistant High commissioner presented the gift of 300kgs mangoes to CM on behalf of Sheikh Hasina.
There are many patterns of friendly relations between India and Bangladesh. These two countries have always extended a helping hand to each other.
Haribhanga mangoes are round in shape and black in colour, and are fleshy, and typically weigh 200 to 400 grams.
During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, India helped Bangladesh by sending vaccines.
Assistant high commissioner Hosen said, “Haribhanga mango is one of the most famous mangoes in Bangladesh. Rangpur district has a high yield of this variety. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent those mangoes as a gift to the chief minister of Tripura.”
“I have received 300 kg mangoes in 10 packets from the Akhaura administration at Agartala land port. Now the process of delivering the mangoes to the chief minister is underway. The mangoes will be handed over to the chief minister accordingly,” the assistant high commissioner said.
“I thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the sweet gift on behalf of my family and the people of the state. We are arranging to send our world-famous pineapple — the Queen Pineapple and Kew variety — to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh,” Said CM Biplab Kumar Deb.
“I would like to thank the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh. I wish that the India-Bangladesh relation under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji would remain intact,” he wrote.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also sent greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Bangladesh PM had sent 2,600 kg mangoes to President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday.
Pervez Musharraf was among the dignitaries who presented the Indian government with mangoes.
According to him, relations between India and Bangladesh is very close. PM Hasina sent the mangoes to further strengthen the relations between the two countries, he said.
Tripura and Bangladesh have a special history as the two share a border, which stretches over 800 km. Bangladesh is reportedly planning to send truckloads of mangoes to other Northeastern states- Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
Mango diplomacy is an aspect of subcontinental politics, however, it is more common between India and Pakistan. Former Pakistani presidents Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf were among the dignitaries who presented the Indian government with mangoes.