C’nawabganj Correspondent:

In the sun-drenched orchards of Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, a quiet revolution is ripening – not on the trees, but in a small processing unit where the humble mango is being transformed into gold.
Local entrepreneur Ismail Khan Shamim is leading a bold new venture: The commercial production of dried mangoes using the region’s prized Ashwina variety, a mango celebrated for its rich aroma, vibrant colour, and sweet-tart flavour.
And he is not just making a snack; he is building a new rural economy.
Shamim, a third-generation mango trader from Khanpara Mahalla, had long seen the heartbreak of post-harvest waste. “Every season, 60 per cent of our mangoes rot on the ground,” he says. “They’re perfectly good, but once overripe, they’re worthless. I wanted to change that.”
His journey began in 2022, during a visit to Thailand, where he tasted premium dried mangoes, chewy, sweet, and shelf-stable, flying off shelves in supermarkets and export markets.
“I thought, why can’t we do this with our Ashwina mangoes?”
With technical support from SwissContact, a Swiss development organisation working in Bangladesh, Shamim installed a modern drying and processing unit in his backyard. After two years of trial, error, and refinement, he launched his brand of sun-kissed, air-dried mango slices – producing over 100 kilograms per day during peak season.
A VALUE CHAIN THAT LIFTS EVERYONE
The process is simple but transformative: Mangoes are harvested just before full ripeness; then washed, peeled, and thinly sliced; then dried in controlled-temperature dehydrators for 12–18 hours; and finally packed in vacuum-sealed pouches for local sale and export potential.
The result? A naturally sweet, preservative-free snack that captures the essence of the Ashwina mango, now with a shelf life of up to a year.
“This isn’t just about profit,” says Akalu, a worker at Shamim’s unit. “It’s about dignity. We’re turning waste into work. Every dried slice means more income for farmers, more jobs in the village.”
And the ripple effect is real. Local mango farmers, once forced to sell at throwaway prices during glut seasons, now have a reliable buyer for their surplus. “Even slightly overripe mangoes have value now,” says farmer Abdul Kalam. “It’s changed our lives.”
EXPORT DREAMS, LOCAL ROOTS
Dried mango is a global commodity, with high demand in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In Thailand, it’s a $200 million export industry. In Bangladesh, it’s just beginning.
Alamin Ali, LAD Officer at SwissContact’s Shibganj office, sees huge potential: “We want to scale this across the district. This isn’t just a product – it’s a rural industrial model. It can reduce post-harvest loss, create jobs, and open export avenues.”
But challenges remain. Access to capital, packaging infrastructure, and export certification are still hurdles for small producers like Shamim.
“Farmers will benefit, but only if the government supports processing,” says Munjer Alam Manik, General Secretary of the Chapainawabganj Agricultural Association. “We need cold storage, food safety labs, and incentives for agro-processing units.”
The district’s agricultural extension department is already on board. “We’re advising new entrepreneurs, promoting value addition,” says Dr Md Yasin Ali, Deputy Director of the Chapainawabganj Agricultural Extension Department. “If this model scales, it will transform our rural economy.”
THE SWEET TASTE OF PROGRESS
Today, Shamim’s dried mangoes are sold in local markets and Dhaka’s premium stores. He dreams of exporting under a ‘Made in Bangladesh’ label, a dream shared by many in this mango heartland.
Because in Chapainawabganj, they are no longer just growing mangoes.
They are redefining them.
And as the dehydrators hum and the scent of mango fills the summer air, one thing is clear:
The future of rural Bangladesh might just be sweet, chewy, and beautifully dried.