The Embassy of Italy in Dhaka has reiterated its strong commitment to fighting corruption in the visa process and assured full cooperation with law enforcement authorities in both Italy and Bangladesh.
Visa applicants have been urged to avoid third-party intermediaries and refrain from making any payments beyond the consular and service fees officially set by the embassy and VFS Global, said a press release of the embassy.
The embassy also encouraged applicants to report any misconduct encountered during their visa application process.
Besides, it announced that visa processing times have improved in recent weeks due to the deployment of additional staff from Italy.
Italy backs Bangladesh’s reforms, urges joint effort to curb illegal migration
It expressed confidence in clearing the existing backlog in the coming months.
The embassy highlighted its active role in identifying fraudulent activities and assisting authorities in their investigations.
A probe conducted by the Italian Police (Guardia di Finanza) recently led to the indictment and house custody of two former staff members of the embassy, along with several other individuals from both Italy and Bangladesh, said the statement.
The embassy emphasised that this development underscores the stringent verification measures undertaken by relevant authorities to dismantle criminal networks and safeguard migrants from abuse and exploitation.