Yunus follows Hasina’s ‘mango diplomacy’ to extend hand of friendship

New Delhi: Following in the footsteps of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Chief Advisor of the Bangladesh interim government, Mohammed Yunus, has now embarked upon what can be dubbed “mango diplomacy” to woo the Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dr Yunus has sent 1,000 kg of the famous Bangladeshi ‘Haribhanga’ mangoes, which hail from the Rangpur district, each to PM Modi and Indian President Draupadi Murmu. The ‘Haribhanga’ (broken earthen pot) mango is grown in the Rangpur district in the north-western part of Bangladesh. The Teesta river flows down from Sikkim in India into this district of Bangladesh at Lalmonirhat, where a barrage has been built recently.

The Bangladesh Chief Advisor has also extended a hand of friendship and sent mangoes to the chief ministers of states bordering Bangladesh, including West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and other North Eastern states. Gift baskets containing 300 kgs of the same delicious mangoes have been sent to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripura’s CM, Manik Saha. Acknowledging the gesture, the Tripura CM has sent “queen” or top quality pineapples, a speciality of the state, to the Bangladesh Chief Advisor.

Former PM Hasina made a switch from sending ‘Hilsa’ fish to the Indian leadership from 2022, and began sending mangoes instead. The ‘hilsa’, a delicacy, has become an endangered species with aggressive harvesting of the species, which is unique to estuarine water bodies like the upper reaches of the Padma river, prompting the Bangladesh leadership to curb its export during the spawning season.

The advent of the courtesies of mango diplomacy also comes with a subtle message for the resolution of unresolved issues, of which the Teesta river waters sharing is a major part.

After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, inter-governmental bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India have deteriorated rapidly and dangerously. Land borders have been closed for trade. However, since the appointment and posting of a new High Commissioner from Bangladesh, Riaz Hamidullah, there are some signs of a thaw and some friendly gestures are apparent.

After the collapse of the Gambhira Bridge, Md Yunus was the only head of state to send a condolence message to PM Modi expressing grief over the loss of lives of Indian citizens.

There has recently been speculation about handing over the Teesta delta basin development project to China and building an airport with the help of China. But this latest gesture, of gifting mangoes, shown by the current Bangladesh interim government marks a slight shift in the Yunus government’s foreign policy towards India.

The Teesta river basin is a major hub for agriculture and is also famous for producing the best quality of mangoes. A diplomat told this correspondent that while it is unclear if the subtle message will convey the urgency of the need to resolve this issue, leaders receiving and tasting these special mangoes will surely remember its rich flavours and perhaps, be reminded of the Teesta river basin.

This tasteful form of diplomacy was originally introduced more than 20 years ago by the former PM Sheikh Hasina. She sent a consignment of ‘Hilsa’ fish as a special gift to the then West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, before the landmark Ganges Waters sharing treaty was signed in 1996, thereby launching the special form of ‘Hilsa diplomacy’ between the neighbours.

The Ganges Waters Treaty now has to be ratified. Whether mango diplomacy will pave the way for successful completion of the treaty negotiations will be keenly watched by both sides, keeping their fingers crossed.

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