When it comes to Indo-Bangla diplomacy, the hilsa fish is the mighty leveler. This ‘Hilsa Diplomacy’ was set in motion a long time back and is still in vogue.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is using ‘hilsa diplomacy’ to bridge the relationship between the two countries. She first used the hilsa gift for the then Chief Minister Jyoti Bose in 1996 before the signing of the Ganges Water Sharing Agreement between Bangladesh and India. Then, when Mamata Banerjee was India’s railway minister in 2010, Hasina brought hilsa fish for her.
