India, Bangladesh engage in saree diplomacy

DHAKA: Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj today presented a cream colour saree to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who in return gifted the famous Bangladeshi Jamdani saree to the visiting Indian leader.

Swaraj, who is on her first standalone overseas visit after taking office a month ago, today called on Hasina, who received her at the reception of her office, departing from the normal protocol.

Hasina hugged Swaraj and while gifting the saree she said that this was bought by her sister.

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shawal diplomacy. During his swearing-in ceremony last month, Modi had gifted a shawal to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for his mother who in return gifted a saree for the Indian Prime Minister's mother.