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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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With inputs from agencies