Professor Muhammad Yunus, the acting chief adviser for Bangladesh, has started a diplomatic campaign dubbed “mango diplomacy” by sending 1,000 kg of the highly valued Haribhanga mangoes to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The goal of this gesture is to restore and normalize the tense relations between the two neighboring countries after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown in August 2024.
In an attempt to reach important Indian political figures outside of the central government, the shipment, which is being sent to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, is being organized by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sheikh Hasina’s government, which has close relations to India, was a notable practitioner of the long-standing “mango diplomacy” tradition. However, tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi arose following Hasina’s departure and her subsequent exile in India.
Beijing’s growing influence in South Asia first caused regional concerns as the interim Yunus government seemed to shift its focus towards China and Pakistan. In light of this, Yunus’s mango diplomacy campaign represents a calculated effort to defuse diplomatic tensions and re-engage India in a more positive way.
In South Asia, the Haribhanga mango, a high-quality type grown in northern Bangladesh, is valued as a cultural and diplomatic gift. In keeping with a wider appeal to Indian political and diplomatic circles, the mangoes are meant not only for PM Modi but also for diplomats and officials in New Delhi.
This action comes after the two nations previously sent Eid greetings, highlighting a willingness to mend friendly relations.
Mango diplomacy is a classic and constructive way to show friendliness, yet it coexists with more intricate geopolitical factors. The outstanding issue that exacerbates bilateral relations is the Yunus government’s formal request for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India. Furthermore, this diplomatic push is further balanced strategically by Bangladesh’s concurrent strengthening of its connections with China and Pakistan.
In an era of political upheaval and regional unpredictability, Bangladesh’s “mango diplomacy” under Professor Muhammad Yunus is a symbolic and calculated attempt to improve and stabilize ties with India.
Sending PM Modi and other Indian leaders Haribhanga mangoes is a culturally meaningful gesture meant to promote goodwill and indicate a readiness to communicate and work together.
