Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Bangladesh in December as the two countries look to expand economic cooperation and strengthen collaboration on safe migration.
During a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, Meloni proposed the establishment of an Italy–Bangladesh Business Forum to boost Italian investment in Bangladesh.
“The Italian Prime Minister expects to visit Bangladesh in December,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general election in Bangladesh, migration challenges, the Rohingya crisis, and bilateral economic relations.
On migration, both sides agreed on the need for intensified efforts to combat irregular flows and dismantle criminal trafficking networks. Meloni expressed Italy’s willingness to support legal migration pathways, including vocational training in Bangladesh for workers in sectors where Italy faces labour shortages.
“There was a discussion with the Italian Prime Minister about safe migration. You know, a lot of people are lured from Bangladesh through trafficking. In many cases, it turns into a tragedy, as you have seen with many Bangladeshis dying in the Mediterranean,” Alam said.
Meloni voiced support for Bangladesh’s ongoing democratic transition and reform agenda, stressing Italy’s commitment to deepening economic and political ties. She praised Professor Yunus for his leadership during the interim period and pledged that Italy would advocate within the European Union for a free and fair election in Bangladesh.
In response, Professor Yunus reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance policy on human trafficking and called for stronger global action. “We need more international efforts to prevent human smuggling,” he said.
On trade, Professor Yunus welcomed Meloni’s proposal for an Italy–Bangladesh Business Forum, noting that while the two countries enjoy longstanding relations, there is considerable untapped potential in investment and commerce.
The leaders also addressed the protracted Rohingya crisis. Professor Yunus urged greater international support for the more than one million refugees hosted in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Meloni pledged to send a high-level delegation to next week’s international conference on the issue at UN headquarters.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were present at the talks.
Meloni, who attended the UNGA in New York from 23–24 September, also held bilateral meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Palacios.
Earlier in May, Bangladesh and Italy agreed to intensify cooperation against transnational organised crime, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, terrorism and cybercrime. Both sides committed to joint training, intelligence sharing, and the creation of a joint committee to strengthen law enforcement collaboration.
Source: UNB