Pineapple as return gift to Bangladesh: Tripura CM’s ‘fruit diplomacy’ draws praise

New Delhi: Biplab Deb-led Tripura government is sending queen variety of pineapples to Bangladesh as a ‘return gift’ to the latter.

Tripura govt’s ‘Fruit diplomacy’, as is being talked about, has garnered attention of policy makers and has become a major talking point.

Bangladesh had sent packets of famous Haribhanga mangoes to Tripura, few days back. Haribhanga mango is a breed of mangoes grown in Bangladesh and is a popular fruit in international markets.

The pineapples packets, which will weigh little more than double the weight of packets of Haribhanga mangoes, which Sheikh Hasina sent to Tripura, will be sent to the neighbouring country on Saturday.

Bonhomie over fruit exchange

A huge consignment of 300 kgs of mangoes was handed over to Tripura CM by Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh, Md. Jubaid Hossein.

“In return to this, about 100 packets of queen pineapples weighing 650 kgs would be sent to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to be handed over to Bangladesh Prime Minister”, an official in the Chief Ministers office said.

The pineapples which are being gifted were collected from Ampi block in Gomati district, famous for growing the state fruit, officials said.

Approximately, 1.28 lakh metric tonne pineapples are cultivated on orchards covering 8,800 hectares in different parts of the northeastern state every year.

President Ram Nath Kovind had declared the queen variety of pineapple as the state’s fruit during his visit to Agartala in 2018.