Italian PM calls for opening "new page" in ties with Bangladesh

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today called upon Bangladesh to open "a new page" in the relationship between Rome and Dhaka, saying Italians are friends of Bangladesh.

The Italian Premier made the call when she met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (local time).

During the meeting, Prof Yunus gave a brief outline of the student-led mass uprising which, he said, has created new opportunities for Bangladesh, pressing "the reset button" for the entire nation.

Meloni said Italy would support the Prof Yunus-led interim government in its move to carry out vital reforms in key sectors.

"Absolutely, you can count on us," she said.

"Let's try to open a new page in our relationship," she added.

The Chief Adviser urged the Italian leader to formalise migration from Bangladesh, paving the way of entry of more Bangladeshi workers in Italy through legal channels, which he said would cut risky illegal migration.

Meloni agreed, saying both nations should work together to stop irregular migration and conduct training for people planning to work in Italy.

Energy and Power adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, senior secretary Lamiya Morshed and chief of protocol Khandaker Masudul Alam were present at the meeting.