Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is slated to visit Bangladesh before September 2025 to bolster bilateral ties, announced Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during a meeting with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Monday, May 5.

Piantedosi emphasised Italy’s desire to “renew” and “relaunch” cooperation with Dhaka, focusing on safe migration, combating human trafficking, and boosting trade and investment.

Piantedosi praised the Bangladeshi community in Italy as “young, hardworking, and well-integrated,” expressing Italy’s intent to hire more workers from Bangladesh through legal channels. “Illegal migration is dangerous and problematic,” he said, urging cooperation to curb sea-based irregular arrivals and organized crime. He proposed a new framework to ensure safe, legal migration pathways.

Chief Adviser Yunus welcomed the collaboration, noting that Bangladeshis in Italy are grateful for their treatment. He condemned international trafficking networks, stating, “Migrants are victims, not beneficiaries, of human trafficking.” Recalling his September 2024 meeting with Meloni at the UN General Assembly, Yunus affirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to joint efforts against illegal migration.

The discussions underscored mutual interests, with Italy eyeing Bangladesh’s workforce to meet labor demands and Dhaka seeking to protect its citizens from exploitative migration routes. Piantedosi’s visit signals a deepening partnership as both nations tackle global challenges.