DHAKA, May 06, 2025 (BSS) - One of the key outcomes of the visit of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi’s visit in Dhaka was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration and Mobility between the two Governments, according to a joint statement disseminated by foreign ministry here. 
 
The Italian Interior minister concluded today his two-day visit here that was marked as reaffirmation of  the longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Italy, grounded in mutual respect, shared values and common interests. 

During the visit, Bangladesh Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr Asif Nazrul and Piantedosi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective government. 

For Bangladesh, this MoU reflects the Government’s commitment to expanding labor markets abroad, securing remittance inflows, and uplifting the lives of people through legal migration pathways, said the statement.  

For Italy, it offers a solution to the challenges of labour shortages while promoting safe, orderly and regular migration, it added.  

This MoU will also help address irregular migration jointly and more effectively, including in line with the provisions of the ‘Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the Identification and Return of Persons without an Authorization to Stay’ signed between Bangladesh and the EU in 2017.

During the visit, both sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations and discussed a wide range of issues, including security cooperation, migration management, law enforcement collaboration, streamlined visa processing arrangements and the welfare of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Italy. 

Both sides also reflected on the shared desire of Bangladesh and Italy to foster a mutually beneficial partnership for promoting economic growth, social development, and the well-being of their people.

The two sides concurred on organizing a visit of the Head of Government of Italy to Bangladesh at an early date.

The Italian Minister expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s efforts to stabilize economy and accelerate growth as well as its generous hosting of forcibly displaced Rohingyas. 

The Bangladesh side acknowledged Italy’s continued support within the European Union and international forums.

During the visit, the Italian minister called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and held bilateral meeting with Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Dr. Asif Nazrul, Foreign Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Adviser for Home Affairs and Agriculture Lt. General (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. 

 

Meeting with the Chief Adviser:  

During his call on the Chief Adviser, Piantedosi reaffirmed Italy’s continued support for the Bangladesh’s interim government and its initiatives for political and socio-economic reforms, echoing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s commitment conveyed during her meeting with the Bangladesh Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2024 in New York. 

Describing Italy as a valued partner of Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser stressed the need for expanding bilateral trade, including through greater market access, business-to-business partnerships, and joint ventures in sectors such as textiles, leather, information technology, and food processing, said the statement.   

He also laid emphasis on deepening bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in diverse areas, including, innovation, climate change, renewable energy, education, cultural exchange, migration, and people-to-people links, especially the youth. 

 

Meeting with the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser: 

While meeting with the Bangladesh Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Italian Minister emphasized promoting mutual prosperity through labour mobility. 

In view of the increasing demand for skilled labour in Italy and the potential for Bangladesh to provide a well-trained, hardworking and young workforce, the Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser requested for considering increased quotas for skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi workers under the legal migration pathways. 

Both of them also agreed to explore concrete avenues for enhancing skills development initiatives. 

They expressed their willingness to work together to promote formal remittance channels and reiterated their commitment to ensuring the dignity, safety and wellbeing of migrant workers.

 

Meeting with the Foreign Affairs Adviser:

During the meeting between the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser and the Italian Interior Minister, the two dignitaries acknowledged the significant contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora to both economies. 

They underscored the need for enhancing legal migration pathways and addressing irregular migration through joint efforts. 

The Foreign Adviser appreciated the Government of Italy for hosting the second-largest Bangladeshi diaspora in Europe. 

He also urged to resolve the issue of pending visa applications with the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka, particularly for those with genuine work permits, at the soonest. 

At the same time, he requested for finding out suitable alternatives to expedite the verification of work permits by the Italian Provincial Immigration Office.  

 

Meeting with the Home Affairs Adviser: 

Both the Bangladesh Home Adviser and the Italian Interior Minister, in a bilateral meeting, welcomed the ongoing collaboration between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries. 

They agreed to enhance cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling as well as terrorism and cybercrime. 

They emphasized the importance of capacity-building, continued information and intelligence sharing, and joint training to strengthen security frameworks in both nations. The Italian Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation on the repatriation of those arriving illegally.

Both sides agreed to make arrangements towards establishing a Joint Committee to promote cooperation in preventing and combating transnational organized crime and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies. 

The visit concluded with both parties expressing confidence that the outcomes of the visit would further strengthen the partnership between Bangladesh and Italy and lay the foundation for deeper collaboration in areas of mutual interest, said the joint statement.