United News of Bangladesh

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Bangladesh in December this year as the two countries eye an expanded economic cooperation with stronger collaboration to ensure safe migration. She proposed the establishment of an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum aimed at promoting Italian investment in Bangladesh. The Italian Prime Minister met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday afternoon (NY time) and discussed issues of mutual interest. "The Italian Prime Minister expects that she will come to Bangladesh in December," Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the meeting. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were present at the briefing. The leaders also discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general election in Bangladesh, migration challenges, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and a possible visit by Prime Minister Meloni to Bangladesh in December. Prof Yunus introduces political leaders with top US companies The meeting between the Chief Adviser and Italian Prime Minister provided an opportunity to discuss the "safe migration" issues to combat irregular migration flows. "There was a discussion with the Italian Prime Minister about safe migration. You know, a lot of people are lured from Bangladesh (human trafficking). In many cases it turns into a tragedy. As you have seen, many Bangladeshis have died in the Mediterranean," Alam said, adding that there was a discussion about how to ensure safe migration. During the meeting, Prime Minister Meloni expressed support for the ongoing democratic transition process and reform programme in Bangladesh, underscoring Italy’s intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic sphere. The two leaders also had an in-depth exchange of views on migration issues, agreeing on the importance of intensifying efforts to fight irregular immigration and combat criminal human trafficking networks. They particularly discussed ways to establish closer cooperation on returns and to support legal migration flows, for example through vocational training programmes in Bangladesh for workers specialised in sectors that are in demand from Italy’s productive system. Commerce adviser, Pakistan PM’s trade coordinator discuss boosting bilateral ties Prime Minister Meloni expressed Italy’s willingness to engage constructively with Dhaka to ensure safe migration pathways that would benefit both nations. She underscored the need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean. In response, Chief Adviser Yunus stated that the Bangladeshi interim government has already adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking and has implemented several initiatives to ensure safer migration routes for Bangladeshi citizens. "We need more global efforts to prevent human smuggling," Professor Yunus emphasised. When Prof Yunus highlighted the importance of further expanding trade relations between the two countries, the Italian Prime Minister proposed for Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum. Prof Yunus welcomed the initiative, noting that while the two countries share longstanding ties, there remains significant potential to expand trade and investment cooperation. Investment opportunities in Bangladesh better than ever: Commerce Adviser Addressing the political transition in Bangladesh, Professor Yunus said the country is on track to hold general elections in February, after which he plans to return to his previous role. Prime Minister Meloni commended Prof Yunus’ leadership over the past 14 months as the head of the interim government and assured him that Italy would advocate within the European Union to support Bangladesh in holding a free and fair election. The two leaders also exchanged views on the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Prof Yunus urged increased international support for over one million Rohingya refugees currently sheltered in Bangladesh. In response, Prime Minister Meloni pledged to send a high-level delegation to next week’s international conference on the crisis at UN headquarters. Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting. The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, visited New York from September 23 to 24 to attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly. Prof Yunus calls for smarter financing to close $4 trillion SDG gap with five priorities She had bilateral meetings with the President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, and with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, and later held a press point. In May this year, Bangladesh and Italy agreed to enhance cooperation in combating transnational organised crimes, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling as well as terrorism and cybercrime. The two countries emphasised the importance of capacity-building, continued information and intelligence sharing and joint training to strengthen security frameworks in both nations. Both sides agreed to make arrangements towards establishing a 'joint committee' to promote cooperation in preventing and combating transnational organised crime and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies, according to a joint statement issued after the official visit of Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi to Bangladesh on May 5-6.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to his Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday. Meloni's visit follows that of Argentine President Javier Milei, who was the first international leader to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his November election win. Other leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have also traveled to Florida to meet the incoming president. Trump attended a documentary screening focused on challenges faced by conservative lawyers within the legal system. He entered the grand ballroom at approximately 7 p.m. and returned after two hours, following dinner. Expressing enthusiasm, Trump introduced Meloni to the audience, stating, “This is very exciting. I’m here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy. She has made waves in Europe and beyond, and we’re just having dinner tonight.” Washington Post cartoonist quits after paper rejects sketch of Bezos bowing to Trump Meloni watched the documentary alongside Trump and several key figures expected to join his administration, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Trump's nominee for secretary of state; Florida Representative Mike Waltz, his pick for national security adviser; and Scott Bessent, his nominee for Treasury secretary. Meloni's visit coincides with rising tensions between Italy and Iran. Late last month, Iranian authorities detained Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Tehran. Italy has called for her release, while Iran seeks the extradition of an Iranian businessman arrested in Milan on a U.S. warrant for alleged involvement in a drone strike in Jordan that killed three American soldiers. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing for a visit to Rome, where he will meet Meloni and Pope Francis starting Thursday. The White House announced that Biden's meeting with Meloni aims to underscore the strong U.S.-Italy alliance and acknowledge her leadership during Italy's G7 presidency last year.  

Setting the stage for a new chapter in Indo-Italian ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated right-wing coalition leader Giorgia Meloni for winning the national election in the European country. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Modi said that he "looks forward to working together" with Meloni to bolster bilateral ties. Meloni is certain to become Italy's first woman PM. "Congratulations @GiorgiaMeloni for leading your party @FratellidItalia to victory in the Italian general elections. We look forward to working together to strengthen our ties," the Indian PM tweeted. Read: How the far right conquered Italy Italy is India's fifth largest trading partner in the European Union and the annual bilateral trade turnover currently stands at 10 billion Euros. More than 600 Italian companies are operating in India. In October 2021, Modi visited Italy for the G20 Summit in Rome. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Indian PM met his Italian counterpart and also called on Pope Francis in Vatican.