Bangladesh Works up ‘Mango Diplomacy’ to Heal Ties with India

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1,000 kg of Haribhanga mangoes dispatched to New Delhi in goodwill gesture amid strained ties

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, July 13, 2025 — In a symbolic gesture aimed at thawing frosty bilateral ties, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, has sent 1,000 kilograms of the prized Haribhanga mangoes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a report by The Daily Star of Dhaka.

The fruit consignment — long used as a tool of soft diplomacy — also includes deliveries for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.

“One thousand kilogrammes of Haribhanga mangoes are being sent to New Delhi. We have prepared the list of dignitaries from the Indian Prime Minister’s Office, diplomats, and other officials,” an official from the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi told The Daily Star. “We hope to deliver the mangoes to the dignitaries concerned in a day or two,” the official added.

The move is seen by analysts as an overture to restore relations with India, which have soured since the abrupt departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The former leader fled to India earlier this year and is reportedly under New Delhi’s protection — a claim that has added to the diplomatic strain.

The act of gifting mangoes is not new in South Asian diplomacy. Hasina herself had made it an annual ritual to send the famed fruit to Modi and other Indian leaders, a practice that came to be known as “mango diplomacy.” Bangladesh in past often used soft diplomacy to warm up relations with Indian leaders. Hasina used to gift “Kurtas’ to Modi, while sending consignments of prized Hilsa fish for Banerjee and other leaders.

Modi and Yunus has sole meeting on the sidelines of BIMSETC Summit. Within days, the relations between two neighbours further nosedived. Modi had counselled Yunus to avoid making statements such as “India’s Northeast is landlocked, and Bangladesh is the only guardian of the sea for all the regions.” The remarks were made By Yunus in China on an official visit.

A few days ago, US President Donald Trump sent tariff letter to Yunus, stipulating 35% duties on Bangladeshi exports to the US. Reports said that some of the large retail giants such as Walmart put on hold orders placed earlier for ready-made garments from Bangladesh. While China has assured Bangladesh to address immediate foreign loan stress of Bangladesh, Dhaka stares at a major economic crisis if 35% tariffs come in force from August 1.

While India has sought to be patient with Bangladesh, Dhaka riles up New Delhi with repeated demands for extradition of Hasina.

“This is a good sign. Sending mangoes by the interim government indicates a willingness from Bangladesh to normalise ties with India,” a former Bangladeshi diplomat was quoted by The Daily Star as saying.