[🇧🇩] Strategic cooperation between Bangladesh and Italy.

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Date of Event: Feb 20, 2025 Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/italy-reaffirms-support-bangladeshs-political-economic-reforms-3828756

Italy reaffirms support for Bangladesh's political, economic reforms

Photo: BSS

Maria Tripodi, vice minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, today reaffirmed firm support of the Italian government for the Bangladesh interim government in its efforts to carry forward the ongoing reform initiatives.

Tripodi announced her support when she met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna to discuss issues of mutual interests.

"We hope you will be successful with the reforms. As our Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned to you at the UNGA, you can always count on us," she told the chief adviser.

"Italy and Bangladesh are very close. Many Bangladeshi citizens live in Italy. They play an important role in our country," she said while urging Bangladesh to work with the European country to stop illegal migration.

The chief advisor also prioritised the need for expanding legal migration, saying that Bangladesh was working hard to stop human trafficking and increase attempts to send more skilled people abroad in formal channels.

Yunus praised Tripodi for undertaking the visit at a historic time when the interim government was trying to take Bangladesh towards political and economic stability after the student-led mass uprising in July, which ended years of misrule.

"Our efforts are underway to address the challenges that we are facing like revitalising the economy and restoring faith in the political system," he said.

The Italian vice-minister responded by saying that Bangladesh would get "full support" from her government.

Tripodi also said Italy would not stop their development support for Bangladeshi people and Rohingyas.

She said many Italian companies were interested in investing in Bangladesh, highlighting the textile, energy, and defence sectors as potential areas of cooperation.

Yunus urged Italy to relocate their factories to Bangladesh and engage youths in exchange programmes between the two countries.

Tripodi's visit is the first ministerial visit from any European Union country since the formation of the interim government in August last year.

Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary for SDG affairs, among others, was present on the occasion.​

 

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Dhaka urges Rome to resolve backlog of visa applications by aspirant migrants

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin yesterday raised with Italy the issue of the backlog of visa applications, particularly of aspirant migrant workers

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka urges Rome to resolve backlog of visa applications by aspirant migrants

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin yesterday raised with Italy the issue of the backlog of visa applications, particularly of aspirant migrant workers.

He said such delays in issuing visas might result in the work permits (Nula Ostas) getting expired or cancelled while causing huge financial, social and psychological distress for the visa aspirants and their families.

When the Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on, the foreign secretary requested him to take due measures to dispose of the applications and resolve the existing visa gridlock at the earliest.

Ambassador Alessandro took active note of the points raised by the foreign secretary, according to the foreign ministry.

He, however, conveyed that the new law adopted by the government of Italy on 11 October 2024 currently suspends all Nulla Ostas issued to Bangladeshi citizens until 22 October 2024.

The embassy has, therefore, decided to return the travel documents of those who have already submitted visa applications before the adoption of the law while keeping their applications open until the confirmation or rejection of their Nulla Ostas.

The ambassador also informed that the re-examination process of Nulla Osta is solely performed by the Provincial Immigration Authority in Italy which can either confirm or revoke the Nulla Osta.

The embassy has no power to intervene in the scrutinisation of the pending Nulla Osta.

With regard to a query on processing times, the Italian ambassador apprised that the embassy is not in a position to conclude each visa process within the period of 90 days.

The work visa applications received in Bangladesh coupled with the mandatory control on implementation of the 'Flow Decree' in Italy sometimes requires more than 90 days.

On the duration of "Nulla Osta" Ambassador Alessandro explained that the suspension by law has frozen the expiration date.

Ambassador Alessandro assured the foreign secretary that he would convey the request to the competent authority of Italy to expedite the re-examination of the pending Nulla Ostas and address the issue as early as possible.​