Italian PM likely to visit Bangladesh in August to boost bilateral ties

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to pay an official visit to Bangladesh in the last week of August, as Dhaka and Rome look to deepen cooperation in key areas and further strengthen bilateral relations.

Diplomatic sources told UNB that officials from both countries are currently working to finalize the arrangements for a successful visit.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, who visited Dhaka earlier this month, informed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus that Italy is interested in hiring more Bangladeshi workers and plans to implement measures to ensure safe migration from Bangladesh.

According to officials, Piantedosi also conveyed that Prime Minister Meloni is likely to visit Bangladesh before September. Italy is reportedly keen to “renew” and “re-launch” its bilateral cooperation with the South Asian nation.

Professor Yunus expressed Bangladesh’s interest in collaborating with Italy to combat illegal migration and human trafficking.

“Bangladeshis living in Italy are very grateful to the host country and appreciative of the way they are treated in Italy,” he said.

The expected visit follows up on a meeting between Prime Minister Meloni and Chief Adviser Yunus on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in September last year.

During that meeting, Meloni affirmed Italy’s support for Bangladesh’s reform efforts aimed at improving the country’s social and economic conditions.

Migration was also a key point of discussion, with both sides expressing a desire to enhance cooperation in managing migration flows. This includes reviving negotiations on a bilateral agreement to prevent irregular migration, establishing closer cooperation on returns, and promoting legal pathways for migration.