Bangladesh Sends 500kg Mango Gift to Kolkata

The Government of Bangladesh has sent 500 kilograms of premium mangoes to India’s West Bengal as a gesture of goodwill, continuing a long-standing tradition of diplomatic exchanges through seasonal gifts. The consignment, comprising two of Bangladesh’s most celebrated mango varieties, crossed into India through the Benapole land port in Jashore on Tuesday evening before being formally handed over to representatives of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

The shipment includes the highly sought-after Amrapali and Haribhanga mangoes, both renowned for their distinctive flavour and quality. According to officials, the mangoes were packed in 100 cartons, each containing five kilograms, bringing the total consignment to 500 kilograms.

Sources at Benapole said that 100 kilograms of the shipment have been earmarked for the Chief Minister of West Bengal, while the remaining 400 kilograms will be distributed among prominent personalities, diplomats, intellectuals and senior government officials in the Indian state as a goodwill gift from the Government of Bangladesh.

Mohammad Abu Talha, Deputy Director of the Plant Quarantine Centre at the Benapole Check Post, told Prothom Alo that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had arranged the dispatch of the mangoes through the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

He said the ministry had issued an official letter confirming the shipment of 500 kilograms of mangoes packed in 100 cartons. The letter also instructed that the fruit should be distributed by the Deputy High Commissioner among distinguished individuals, including intellectuals and other respected members of society in West Bengal.

Officials at the Plant Quarantine Centre said the annual initiative has become a regular feature of Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbour during the country’s mango season. Each year, carefully selected premium mangoes are sent to West Bengal as a symbol of friendship and mutual respect between the two sides.

Bangladesh’s mangoes enjoy a strong reputation for their taste, aroma and quality, with varieties such as Amrapali and Haribhanga attracting widespread appreciation both at home and abroad. The seasonal gift also highlights the country’s rich agricultural heritage and serves as a cultural ambassador, showcasing one of Bangladesh’s most prized fruits.

The practice, often described as “mango diplomacy”, has emerged as a simple yet meaningful expression of cordial bilateral relations. While modest in scale, such exchanges help reinforce people-to-people connections and reflect the spirit of cooperation that continues to characterise relations between Bangladesh and India, particularly between Bangladesh and the neighbouring state of West