PRAN Group is set to launch the country’s biggest mango festival, titled “PRAN Mango Fest,” from Thursday at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi.
The three-day event will run from 10am to 8pm daily and is open to all with free entry.
Mangoes from Bangladesh’s prime growing regions, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Natore, will be directly brought by farmers and sold at the festival. Organisers say all major local mango varieties will be showcased, along with cultural programmes, traditional games, and live music performances.
Popular music band Warfaze and singer Oyshee are among the headline performers scheduled to entertain crowds during the cultural evenings.
At a press conference held at PRAN’s corporate office in Badda on Wednesday, Eleash Mridha, managing director of PRAN Group, said, “PRAN is the largest buyer of mangoes in Bangladesh. During the season, we collect mangoes from around 10,000 contract farmers to produce juices and drinks that are available year-round.”
He added that the mango-based product market in Bangladesh is now worth about Tk1,500 crore, and global demand is also rising. “Branding Bangladeshi mangoes is essential. It’s a matter of pride that PRAN is exporting mango juice, drinks, bars, and pickles to 148 countries,” he said.
“This festival is a platform for farmers from mango-famous districts to present the taste and tradition of their produce to the next generation,” Mridha added.
Mahmudul Hasan Zisha, head of marketing at Agricultural Marketing Company Ltd (AMCL-PRAN), said the festival aims to connect the younger generation to the country’s mango heritage with interactive games and performances.
Other officials present at the briefing included Mahabub Alam, senior manager (Operations) at AMCL, Omar Bin Zubair, assistant brand manager, and Tanjibul Hoque Tushar, sub assistant brand manager of PRAN Beverages.
