The Bangladesh embassy has organised an exhibition and festival of various Bangladeshi mango varieties and mango-based processed products in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. The event, titled “Bangladesh Mango Delicacy,” presented Bangladesh’s high-quality mangoes, its rich agricultural heritage and the potential for exporting agricultural produce to an international audience.
The chief guest at the event, held at the Utsav Kunj banquet hall next to the embassy on Saturday, was the secretary general of the SAARC secretariat, Ambassador Md Golam Sarwar. The joint secretary of the South Asia division of Nepal’s foreign ministry, Gahendra Rajbhandari, attended as special guest. Diplomats from various countries, senior officials of the Nepal government, business representatives, importers, media workers and invited guests also took part.
In his welcome address the ambassador of the Bangladesh embassy, Md Shafiqur Rahman, said that in Bangladesh the mango is not merely a fruit; it is an inseparable part of the country’s culture, heritage, agriculture and way of life. Because of its fertile alluvial soil and favourable climate, he said, Bangladesh is one of the finest mango-producing countries in the world. He also set out the international reputation of varieties including Khirsapat (Himsagar), Haribhanga, Langra, Fazli, Gopalbhog, Amrapali, Ashwina, Katimon, Gauromoti and Bari mangoes.
The ambassador also said the country’s scientists have achieved significant success in mango research by developing new late-yielding Bari mango varieties and successfully adapting foreign varieties. At the same time the private sector is producing internationally standard mango juice, nectar, pulp, jam, pickle, chutney, dried mango, candy, fruit bars and various value-added products.
In his address as chief guest, the SAARC secretary general, Md Golam Sarwar, said that although South Asia has vast potential in mango production, exports of mangoes and mango products from the region have not yet reached the expected level. He remarked that initiatives of this kind will play an important part in increasing cooperation among SAARC countries in the agriculture sector.
The special guest, Gahendra Rajbhandari, said the event conveys Bangladesh’s warmth and hospitality and will further strengthen relations between the peoples of Bangladesh and Nepal. He also praised Ambassador Md Shafiqur Rahman’s “mango diplomacy” initiative.
At the event a successful Bangladeshi mango grower, Rafiqul Islam, set out his experience of 15 years of mango cultivation. He presented to the guests various methods of producing safe, quality mangoes by following Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
The exhibition displayed fresh mangoes of various late-season varieties from Rajshahi, including Fazli, Amrapali, Bari-4, Katimon, Gauromoti and Ashwina. A range of processed products was also displayed, including mango juice, pickle, fruit bars, dried mango, chutney, jam and jelly. Desserts including mango cake, mango sticky rice and mango pudding were served to the guests. Documentaries on mango cultivation in Bangladesh and on the country’s culture, tourism and “Beautiful Bangladesh” were also screened.
About 250 guests attended the festival. In the organisers’ view, the initiative will increase interest in Bangladeshi mangoes and mango products in Nepal, build partnerships between businesspeople of the two countries and create new opportunities to expand bilateral trade in agricultural and food products. Traditional Bangladeshi food was served to the guests at the end of the event.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report