Rajshahi is known as Bangladesh’s mango capital. Its tasty, juicy and fragrant mangoes have earned the district a reputation that extends beyond the country’s borders to the international stage. To sample the famed mangoes of Rajshahi, the US ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T. Christensen, this time turned up directly at the mango market.
On Tuesday (June 16) morning, he visited the traditional Baneshwar mango market in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi.
The ambassador toured various warehouses, shops and mango collection centers across this market, one of the largest in the northern region. He was accompanied by US Embassy political counselor Eric Gillan, political officer Charles Besnard and other senior embassy officials.
Rajshahi’s mango season means an influx of traders, wholesalers and buyers from various parts of the country. In this season, the Baneshwar market becomes one of the biggest mango trading centers. Thousands of maunds of mangoes are sent to different corners of the country every day in hundreds of trucks, pickups and vans.
Visiting this busy market, the ambassador inquired about different varieties of mango. He spoke with mango growers and traders and learned about production, preservation, marketing and export. At one point during the visit, he also tasted several popular locally grown varieties.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, the US ambassador said: “As ambassador, this is my first visit to Rajshahi. I came here once before, in 2020. But this time I have come especially during the mango season, because I wanted to taste Rajshahi’s mangoes. I am truly delighted to be here.”
The US ambassador said he came from an agricultural US state, so he has had a long-standing interest in the production of farm goods and in market systems.
In the ambassador’s words: “There is nothing like the experience of going to where a product is grown and seeing and tasting it. There you get to see the freshest, most diverse and best produce.”
On the potential of Bangladeshi mangoes, Brent T. Christensen said mango is a very popular fruit among Americans. In the United States, however, frozen mango is more commonly available and is used to make various drinks and shakes.
He said: “America loves mango, but it is hard to find mangoes as fresh as Rajshahi’s there. The taste and freshness of the mangoes here is truly unique.”
Local traders and farmers see the ambassador’s comment as a kind of recognition of the international quality and potential of Rajshahi’s mangoes.
The US ambassador also offered important views on increasing the potential for mango exports from Bangladesh. He emphasized developing cold-chain, or cold-storage-based, preservation and transport systems.
He said: “To keep mangoes available year-round and to increase exports of frozen mango, an advanced cold-chain system is needed. This will further increase Bangladesh’s opportunities in mango production, preservation and export.”
According to agricultural experts, although the country’s mango production has risen significantly, large quantities of fruit are wasted for lack of adequate storage facilities and modern supply systems. With advanced cold storage, a processing industry and international-standard packaging, Rajshahi’s mangoes could build a stronger position in foreign markets.
Rajshahi’s mangoes are already being exported to Europe, the Middle East, Canada and other countries. But the volume of exports remains limited compared with production.
Traders said that such visits by foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations would play a positive role in raising the profile of Rajshahi’s mangoes in foreign markets.
Local mango traders said the US ambassador’s visit was not just a courtesy call; it was an important message for Rajshahi’s mango industry. Interest from a representative of one of the world’s largest consumer markets could also attract international buyers, they said.
Farmers, meanwhile, hope that stronger government and private initiatives in branding Rajshahi’s mangoes, developing export infrastructure and expanding international markets will bring positive change to the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people in the region.
The visit by US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen to the Baneshwar mango market is not merely a diplomatic engagement; it is a symbol of the international potential of Rajshahi’s agricultural economy and mango industry. Such visits could open the door to new possibilities in further extending the reputation Rajshahi’s mangoes enjoy as a safe, tasty and quality fruit in the global market.
Realizing the dream of taking Rajshahi’s orchards to the world market now requires advanced preservation systems, modern marketing strategies and export-friendly infrastructure. On that journey, the US ambassador’s visit will undoubtedly stand as a positive message, those concerned said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report