Bangladesh showcases premium mangoes in Nepal to boost agro exports
Dhaka: Bangladesh showcased its premium mango varieties and processed mango products in Kathmandu on July 26, aiming to promote agricultural exports and strengthen trade ties with Nepal.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu organized the "Bangladesh Mango Delicacy" festival at Utsav Kunj Banquet Hall, featuring a wide range of fresh late-season Bangladeshi mangoes alongside value-added mango products, read a press release.
Around 250 guests, including fruit importers, traders, business leaders, chamber representatives, diplomats, senior Nepali government officials, and members of the media, attended the event.
Addressing the program, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Md. Shafiqur Rahman said mango is more than just a fruit in Bangladesh, describing it as an integral part of the country's culture, heritage, and agricultural tradition.
He highlighted Bangladesh's achievements in modern horticulture and agro-processing, noting that the country produces internationally acclaimed varieties such as Khirsapat (Himsagar), Haribhanga, Langra, Fazli, Gopalbhog, Amrapali, Ashwina, Katimon, Gauramoti and BARI mangoes, renowned for their sweetness, aroma and quality.
The ambassador also said Bangladeshi scientists have developed several late-season mango varieties, while local industries have built a vibrant mango-processing sector producing juice, pulp, jams, pickles, chutneys, dried mangoes, candies and other value-added products that meet international quality and food safety standards.
SAARC Secretary-General Md. Golam Sarwar, the event's guest of honor, said South Asia has enormous potential in mango production, but exports from the region remain limited. He called for greater regional cooperation in agriculture and appreciated the Bangladesh Embassy's initiative to promote agricultural products.
Representing Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joint Secretary Gahendra Rajbhandari described the festival as an innovative example of "mango diplomacy" that strengthens people-to-people relations and friendship between Bangladesh and Nepal despite global diplomatic challenges.
The exhibition featured fresh mangoes from Rajshahi, including Fazli, Amrapali, BARI-4, Katimon, Gauramoti and Ashwina, along with processed products such as mango juice, pickles, dried mango, chutney, jam, jelly and fruit bars produced by Bangladeshi companies.
Visitors were also served mango-based desserts, including mango cakes, mango sticky rice, and mango pudding, while documentaries showcasing Bangladesh's mango cultivation, tourism, and cultural heritage were screened.
Bangladeshi mango grower Rofiqul Islam shared his experience of cultivating mangoes under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for more than 15 years and highlighted modern cultivation techniques supported by the Department of Agricultural Extension.
