&w=3840&q=100)
Mango diplomacy after Eid letter: Is Yunus seeking to reset ties with Modi?
Bangladesh's interim Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has initiated what many are referring to as 'mango diplomacy' with India.
According to Dhaka Tribune, a consignment of 1,000 kilogrammes of Haribhanga mangoes, a highly prized variety cultivated in northern Bangladesh, was dispatched to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key political leaders in New Delhi over the weekend.
The gesture, coordinated by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is being seen as part of a broader diplomatic effort by the current caretaker administration in Dhaka to re-engage New Delhi.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Alongside Modi, mango consignments are also being delivered to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha.
According to officials at the Bangladesh High Commission in India, the gifts are intended for distribution among dignitaries in the Indian Prime Minister's Office and the diplomatic corps.
This consignment is part of a longstanding tradition in the subcontinent, where seasonal fruits — especially mangoes — are used as tokens of goodwill. Bangladesh, in particular, has often engaged in such symbolic exchanges with Indian states and leaders.
Does Yunus want to mend ties with Modi?
The mangoes followed a diplomatic exchange earlier in June when Modi sent Eid-ul-Adha greetings to the people of Bangladesh and Yunus. In a return letter dated June 6, Yunus noted PM Modi's message that 'reflects the shared values' and the connect between the two nations.
He continued, 'I am confident that the spirit of mutual respect and understanding will continue to guide our nations to work together for the wellbeing of our peoples.'
Describing the religious festival as 'a time of reflection, which brings communities together in the spirit of festivity, sacrifice, generosity and unity,' Yunus used the opportunity to highlight the importance of working collaboratively across borders for the broader good.
In his own letter dated June 4, Modi had described Eid-ul-Adha as 'an integral part of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India' and stated the values of 'sacrifice, compassion and brotherhood' as central to building inclusive and peaceful societies.
Though diplomatic courtesies such as these are customary during religious festivals, this particular sequence signals a more deliberate attempt to re-engage at a time when formal diplomatic ties have been significantly stressed.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Strained Bangladesh-India relations
India's relationship with Bangladesh has undergone a considerable shift since the dramatic fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024, following months of youth-led protests.
The unrest, marked by widespread violence and a reported death toll exceeding 1,000, culminated in Hasina's abrupt departure from Dhaka. Since August 5 last year, the former prime minister has been living in India, where she remains in self-imposed exile.
India's discomfort with the new dispensation has been evident. The administration under Yunus — appointed as head of the interim government — has drawn criticism from New Delhi over a range of issues, including its perceived mishandling of communal violence targeting minorities and a noticeable diplomatic tilt towards China and Pakistan.
Bangladesh, on its part, has accused India of meddling in its domestic affairs and expressed strong resentment over what it called 'unwanted Indian interference.'
Meanwhile, the domestic political environment in Bangladesh remains unsettled. Several opposition parties have been pressing for early national elections and a return to full-fledged democratic rule.
While Yunus has indicated that elections could be held by the end of 2025, he has publicly stated that he does not intend to contest them himself.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The political vacuum and the broader strategic uncertainty have prompted Dhaka to recalibrate its foreign policy. In the last year, Bangladesh has notably deepened its engagement with China.
With over $7 billion in investments and a debt burden exceeding $6 billion, China plays a significant role in Dhaka's economic and infrastructural development.
Bangladesh is also part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese President Xi Jinping's flagship transcontinental infrastructure project.
Why Bangladesh still needs India
Despite its outreach to Beijing, Bangladesh remains deeply interlinked with India, both geographically and economically. Nearly 94 per cent of Bangladesh's 4,367-kilometre border is shared with India, and the country's geo-position makes its economy heavily reliant on Indian access points for trade and transportation.
This proximity not only creates logistical dependency but also grants Dhaka considerable leverage as a vital corridor for India's northeastern states.
From food staples like rice, wheat, onions, and sugar, to raw materials such as cotton and iron, Bangladesh imports a wide range of essentials from its western neighbour.
India also supplies refined petroleum, electronic equipment and construction materials vital to Bangladesh's urbanisation and industrial growth.
Any prolonged downturn in relations with India would significantly impair Bangladesh's economy. A reduction in cross-border trade or delays in supply chains could lead to inflation, job losses and a drop in GDP.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Bangladesh's ready-made garments (RMG) industry — the backbone of its export economy — depends heavily on Indian textile inputs. Disruptions to this supply would directly affect foreign revenue and employment in the sector.
These realities make it evident that Dhaka cannot afford to alienate New Delhi entirely, even as it cultivates strategic ties with other powers.
India, for its part, sees Bangladesh as a crucial partner in regional connectivity, security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts.
What is mango diplomacy?
Using mangoes as a soft diplomatic tool is not new in South Asian politics. The gifting of mangoes, particularly high-quality regional varieties, has long been a symbol of hospitality and friendship in the region.
In 2023, then-Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent mangoes to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a friendly gesture during stalled negotiations over the Teesta water-sharing agreement.
The practice has also been observed in other regional contexts. In 2008, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari gifted mangoes to then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking to open the door for bilateral dialogue.
Going further back, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi presented mangoes to Philippine President Corazon Aquino during a state visit in 1986.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
West Bengal and Tripura have often received seasonal mango gifts from Dhaka, reciprocated in kind by the Indian states.
This year, Tripura received 300 kilogrammes of Haribhanga mangoes, packed in 60 cartons and delivered through the Akhaura land port. Tripura's signature offering in return has traditionally been the Queen variety of pineapples, renowned for their flavour.
While these fruit exchanges are largely symbolic, they serve a purpose in maintaining a working relationship even during periods of political discord.
Also Watch:
With inputs from agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
18 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India inches closer to historic US trade deal, can Modi dodge Trump's 26% tariff threat?
Credit where credit is due. Indian trade negotiators have persevered and survived in a tough environment of tariff threats from Donald Trump and rapid-fire letters spitting out of the White strategy: stay calm and carry on. Bring a good ground game, prevent oversimplification of issues, and insist on fairness. An interim India-US trade deal appears tantalisingly close, which, when announced, should remove the sword of 26% tariffs hanging over India. It will be a subset of the 'first tranche' of a BTA that both agreed to complete by fall. Rajesh Agarwal, India's chief negotiator, is here to give the finishing touches but not to make an announcement. That right belongs to Trump. 'Many of us were expecting an announcement two weeks ago. It's impossible to assess what the president's going to do, what his calculus is,' Mark Linscott, a former US trade official, told me. Could the timing be related to trade talks with Pakistan and a desire to make a joint announcement? 'It would not be productive. The India agreement is historic,' said extended the July 9 deadline to August 1, possibly for two reasons - first, negotiations with some countries, including India, were at an advanced stage, and second, he needed to show results. A 'win' in a sea of threats would affirm that his mad strategy is with India have been substantive, with a focus on the long- term trade trajectory. Flexibility is the name of the game. If you are starting with a $45 bn trade surplus, some front-loading of benefits to the US can be digested. The main objective is to avoid the 26% tariffs Trump threatened and protect Indian being finalised would be an interim agreement, which will lead to more detailed discussions on a legal text, which, in turn, would lead to the 'first tranche' of an unprecedented deal and later to a possible second tranche. Neither side has travelled so far so quickly, or held as many meetings and video conferences negotiators are charged up. Sometimes, Delhi has had to wait for DC to respond, belying old beliefs that Indians move slowly, if at US wants more market access for industrial goods, apples, wines, alfalfa hay, soyabean, maize and dairy products. India is open to some, but GMO foods and dairy are red lines - one is banned under law, and the other could spark riots because American cows are fed a non-veg diet. Officials will likely set the most contentious issues for wants lower tariffs on its labour-intensive exports, from leather products to garments to textiles to gems and jewellery. Greater market access for pharma and electronics would be good, too, and while you are at it, don't forget to lower US tariffs on steel, aluminium and auto there are differences on 'standards' - whose standards are right, and should one country automatically accept another's? How do you position your objections? How do you simplify/harmonise the two regulatory structures? The word 'complex' doesn't do justice to the nature of discussions, the pushing and pulling, the stretching of limits, and making the right judgements while weighing the politics of it is on the cusp of something positive in a challenging landscape where every day springs a surprise, often a nasty one. US negotiators have kept everything close to their chest - even their companies don't know the direction of the all part of the strategy of unpredictability - now fully grown from its nascency in Trump 1.0. The letter bombs dropped on Japan, South Korea, Laos, Bangladesh and even Myanmar, are nothing but a pressure campaign to shock them into submission. A letter doesn't mean Trump won't do a trade deal - a Bangladeshi delegation is already here asking for for Senator Lindsey Graham's bill, which proposes 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and petrochemical products, it does allow Trump to waive those tariffs for 180 days on national security grounds. A newer version - still secret - is expected to expand Trump's ability to grant the bill is pushed in the US Congress will depend on how talks with Russia progress, or don't. Both Dems and Rs are united in their desire to punish Moscow. India, as a major buyer of Russian oil, will have a problem on hand unless given a waiver. Diplomatic efforts are underway to sensitise Graham and his staff to India's need for energy If the bill becomes law, global oil prices will likely rise, which means higher prices for Americans at the gas pump. That won't be good news for Trump. But an interim trade agreement with India would be. Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. The 10-second mystery: Did the Air India crash report hide more than what it revealed? Can Indian IT's 'pyramid' survive the GenAI shake-up? Zee promoters have a new challenge to navigate. And it's not about funding or Sebi probe. The deluge that's cooling oil prices despite the Iran conflict Stock Radar: Natco Pharma stock showing signs of momentum after falling over 30% from highs – what should investors do? In mid-caps, 'just hold' often creates wealth: 10 mid-cap stocks from different sectors with upside potential up to 44% F&O Talk | Foreign outflows, IT drag pull nifty lower; next support at 24,500: Rahul Ghose How to use dividend yield in volatile times: 6 stocks where this strategy has a high chance of giving much better returns
The Print
28 minutes ago
- The Print
Legs hacked by Left supporters, how RS entrant Sadanandan's case played out in the courts
Sadanandan, a former SFI member, was attacked by several men in January 1994, years after he left the communist party for the RSS. Sadanandan lost both his legs in the attack near Kannur district's Thalassery. The police arrested 12 people, all of them with links to the Communist party. Eight were convicted, while four were acquitted due to the lack of evidence. Nearly a decade later, Sadanandan's nomination to Rajya Sabha is a reminder of Kerala's long history of political violence and revenge murders, most of which involve the CPIM and the BJP. Thiruvananthapuram: At a rally in the run-up to the 2016 Assembly polls, Prime Minister Modi held up the hand of the BJP candidate from Kannur's Koothuparambu constituency, C. Sadanandan Master, highlighting the 'brutality committed by the communists' in the State. According to court documents, the attackers also set off a bomb to create an atmosphere of terror in the area. Analysts say that almost three decades later, the BJP is trying to use Sadanandan's Rajya Sabha entry to highlight Kerala's history of political killings, especially in Kannur district. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his life as an epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. 'Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable,' the Prime Minister wrote on X. However, Joseph C. Mathew, a state-based political analyst, said: 'I don't think it's going to help the BJP in any way. They may try to create a parallel history and ideological base. They might have been victims of violence, but it was a local tussle and not for a larger cause,' Mathew said. Appeal for enhanced punishment turned down In 2014, Sadanandan approached the Kerala HC asking that the punishment for his attackers be increased, but the court turned it down in January this year, saying such an appeal could only be made by the state government. 'In light of the gravity of the offence committed, the sentence of seven years appears to be very light. However, the State, for reasons best known to them, has not filed an appeal,' the Kerala High Court observed while dismissing his appeal. However, the court enhanced the compensation payable by the eight convicted men from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 each. Pronouncing the verdict, the Kerala High Court said the accused as well as the Marxist party workers were maintaining a hostile attitude towards Sadanandan since he left the party. Quoting the trial court's judgment, the High Court noted that Sadanandan, 'a charismatic and efficient leader, was making his mark in the locality, and his efforts helped in spreading and strengthening the roots of his party in the area,' which the rival party could not accept. Of the accused, some had previously worked closely with Sadanandan in the party. The Principal Assistant Sessions Judge, Thalassery, sentenced the convicted to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000. Though the convicted men approached the court challenging the verdict, their appeal was dismissed in 2013. The accused were found guilty under the charges of IPC section 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 342 (wrongful confinement), 326 (grievous hurt with dangerous weapons), and 307 (attempt to murder). 'The attack seems to have been premeditated and well planned. As noticed earlier and at the risk of repetition, it needs to be noted that not only had A1 to A8 hacked PW1 (Sadanandan) repeatedly leading to both his legs being severed, they also made sure that nobody approached PW1 to rescue/save him. This makes the offences all the more grave/severe,' the court observed. Attack and counter-attack Incidentally, Sadanandan's attack was followed by the murder of an SFI worker named K.V. Sudheesh in Kannur the same year. 'If I hadn't lost my legs, Sudheesh would not have died, that's the analysis. If you ask me if it's right, it's not when we think about humanity. But it was a normal reaction from the workers when they saw their district leader had been amputated. That might be the emotion behind Sudheesh's death,' Sadanandan later said in an interview given to local Malayalam TV channel Asianet News. As per court documents, one Janardhanan, a CPI(M) worker, was also attacked at Mattannur shortly after the attack, in which Sadanandan himself was an accused. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Kerala reported 42 political murders between 2016 and 2022. Of the total, 15 happened in 2016. Nationwide, this was the third highest after Jharkhand (92) and Bihar (85). (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 26/11 prosecutor, ex-foreign secretary & Kerala poll violence victim: Stories of 4 Rajya Sabha nominees
The Print
29 minutes ago
- The Print
Mahayuti govt to enact anti-conversion law in Dec, it will be tougher than other states: Minister
'A panel has been formed under the Director General of Police to frame a law (against religious conversions) that will be stricter than the rest of the 10 states. A report (on the issue drafted by DGP) has been submitted and the law will be passed in the coming (winter) session,' he told the house. Speaking in the legislative council, Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home (Rural), noted Maharashtra will be the 11th Indian state to come up with such a law. Mumbai, Jul 14 (PTI) The Maharashtra government will enact a tough law to prevent religious conversions in the winter session of the legislature and its provisions will be more stringent that similar legislations existing in other states, a minister said on Monday. The winter session of the state legislature is usually held in December in Nagpur, the second capital of Maharashtra. Raising the issue of forced conversion in the state, Shiv Sena leader and nominated MLC Manisha Kayande alleged a pregnant woman committed suicide in Sangli district of western Maharashtra as she was under pressure (from in-laws) to change her religion. There was a fight in a Pune-based family over the issue of religious conversion and cross FIRs were filed over the matter, she said. Kayande pointed out that 10 states — Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand — have their own anti-conversion law. The MLC asked whether Maharashtra's Mahayuti government will bring an anti-conversion law like these ten states to which the minister replied in the affirmative. PTI PR RSY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
