To further strengthen friendship and cordial relations with neighbouring India, the government's foreign ministry has sent 100 kg of mangoes as a goodwill gift for West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The duty-free consignment was sent to India very quietly through Benapole land port in Jashore on Tuesday evening (30 June).

The mangoes were formally handed over to a representative of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. They include the Amrapali and Haribhanga varieties.

As last year, the shipment was kept secret. No customs or port official spoke about it, but the deputy director of the checkpost plant quarantine station confirmed it.

According to sources, a total of 500 kg of mangoes, in 100 cartons of 5 kg each, was sent to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. Of this, 100 kg is set aside for West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The remaining 400 kg will be distributed as goodwill gifts among senior government officials, academics, intellectuals, cultural figures, businesspeople and media personalities in West Bengal.

Md Abu Tala, deputy director of the Benapole checkpost plant quarantine station, said: "A letter has been given about sending the mangoes. It says the deputy high commissioner will send the mangoes to dignitaries in West Bengal, including the chief minister and various intellectuals."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.