By reviving Hasina-era mango diplomacy with India, Yunus govt signals ‘business as usual'
While consignments of mangoes were also sent to other South Asian countries, and states in India, including key political figures in West Bengal and Tripura, one notable omission stood out: Assam.
New Delhi: Earlier this week, Dhaka dispatched 100 kg of its prized Haribhanga mangoes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuing a tradition of 'mango diplomacy' that began under Bangladesh's deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The seasonal exchange came at a time of considerable political and diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Earlier Thursday, Yunus sent 300 kg of the popular mangoes as a gift to Tripura CM Manik Saha. Each year, the Bangladesh government sends seasonal gifts to the Tripura state government and prominent individuals. In a reciprocal gesture of goodwill, Tripura sends Bangladesh its renowned Queen variety pineapples, known for their sweetness and juiciness.
On the surface, the gift baskets appeared to signal a thaw in ties, which turned frosty following Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024. But the timing of the gesture gives it deeper, more strategic undertones, particularly the omission of Assam from the list of recipients.
In June, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had told the state Assembly that authorities 'pushed back [into Bangladesh] almost 330 people' who they suspected of being foreigners.
Also Read: Yunus initiates 'mango diplomacy' in bid to strengthen ties with China. 50-yr water sharing plan soon
'Business as usual'
Even as it revives Hasina-era mango diplomacy, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus is recalibrating its regional strategy and moving decisively to deepen ties with China and Pakistan. Beijing, already a major player in Bangladesh, had announced a $1 billion economic package during Hasina's final months in office.
The interim government has signaled its intent to build on that investment.
In a parallel move, relations with Pakistan have also warmed considerably. In April, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch visited Dhaka in what marked the first high-level engagement between the two countries in over 15 years. Since Hasina's departure, both nations have resumed military dialogues, reactivated trade agreements, and relaxed visa requirements.
Notably, Bangladesh maintained a neutral stance during the most recent flare-up between India and Pakistan, a move interpreted by many as a signal that Dhaka is seeking to expand its strategic flexibility in the region.
Last month, China hosted the first-ever trilateral meeting between Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan in Kunming, in the southwestern province of Yunnan. In a statement released after the meeting, the Chinese foreign ministry said the three nations had 'reaffirmed their commitment to genuine multilateralism and open regionalism,' emphasizing—apparently with India in mind—that the cooperation 'is not directed at any third party'.
Analysts say these developments point to a quiet but unmistakable shift in Bangladesh's foreign policy outlook. 'Bangladesh is signaling that it's business as usual,' Mubashar Hasan, Bangladeshi political analyst and researcher at the University of Oslo, told ThePrint.
Adding, 'While the country takes pride in its mangoes, the gesture also reflects a broader shift—unlike during Hasina's tenure, Dhaka no longer views India as its primary regional ally. India maintained a realist foreign policy and aligned with Hasina's rhetoric while she was in power. Although India's stance remains largely unchanged, Bangladesh's political outlook has clearly evolved.'
By engaging with China and Pakistan while keeping diplomatic courtesies alive with India, Bangladesh appears to be walking a careful tightrope while asserting greater autonomy.
As for mango diplomacy, while symbolic, has a history in the subcontinent. In 1986, Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi famously gifted mangoes to Philippine President Corazon Aquino. In 2008, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari sent a crate to then-Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a gesture of goodwill.
Bangladesh has also used mangoes as a soft power tool. In 2023, Hasina sent a similar consignment to Indian leaders to encourage progress on the long-stalled Teesta water-sharing agreement.
Now, the Yunus administration is actively pursuing the extradition of Hasina, living in exile in India, to face charges stemming from the brutal crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. She has been accused of crimes against humanity and has now been indicted as well.
Authorities in Dhaka have also begun freezing the assets of Hasina and her family. Justice Minister Asif Nazrul and Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain confirmed that formal extradition requests have already been sent to New Delhi. India has so far not responded to any of the requests.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Indian mangoes land in America and become 'ticking time bombs'
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