Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to make a landmark visit to Bangladesh this December, signaling a new chapter in the relationship between the two nations. The announcement follows a high-profile meeting between Meloni and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, held on September 24, 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to UNB and The Daily Star, the leaders used the occasion to lay out an ambitious agenda focused on economic cooperation, migration, and humanitarian challenges.
During their meeting, Meloni proposed the creation of an Italy–Bangladesh Business Forum, an initiative aimed squarely at boosting Italian investment in Bangladesh and unlocking untapped potential in bilateral trade. "The Italian Prime Minister expects to visit Bangladesh in December," Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the talks, highlighting the significance of the upcoming visit. Professor Yunus enthusiastically welcomed the business forum proposal, emphasizing the deep historic ties between the two countries but also noting, as reported by The Daily Star, that "there remains significant potential to expand trade and investment cooperation."
The timing of these discussions is no coincidence. Bangladesh is preparing for a general election scheduled for February 2026, a pivotal moment for the country’s political landscape. Both leaders took the opportunity to discuss the upcoming polls, with Meloni voicing strong support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and reform agenda. She praised Professor Yunus for his leadership during the 14-month interim period, assuring him that Italy would advocate within the European Union for a free and fair election in Bangladesh. According to The Daily Star, Meloni "commended Professor Yunus's 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."
Migration emerged as a central theme during the talks, reflecting ongoing concerns about the safety and legality of routes taken by Bangladeshi migrants seeking work abroad. The Mediterranean Sea, in particular, has become a graveyard for hundreds of migrants, many of them from Bangladesh, who have fallen victim to trafficking networks and perilous journeys. Meloni underscored Italy’s willingness to support legal migration pathways, including expanded vocational training in Bangladesh for workers in sectors where Italy faces labor shortages. She also stressed the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and dismantle criminal trafficking networks. "There was a discussion with the Italian Prime Minister about safe migration. You know, a lot of people are lured from Bangladesh through trafficking. In many cases, it turns into a tragedy, as you have seen with many Bangladeshis dying in the Mediterranean," Alam explained to reporters, as cited by UNB.
Professor Yunus responded by reiterating Bangladesh’s zero-tolerance policy on human trafficking and highlighted the government’s commitment to safer migration. "We need more global efforts to prevent human smuggling," Professor Yunus stated, echoing his call for stronger international cooperation. The interim government, he added, has already implemented several initiatives to ensure safer migration routes for Bangladeshi citizens.
Beyond economic and migration issues, the leaders also tackled the protracted Rohingya crisis—a humanitarian emergency that has seen over one million refugees from Myanmar find shelter in Bangladesh. Professor Yunus appealed for greater international support to help Bangladesh shoulder this enormous burden. Meloni, for her part, pledged to send a high-level Italian delegation to the upcoming international conference on the Rohingya crisis at UN headquarters, demonstrating Italy’s commitment to seeking durable solutions for the refugees. As reported by both UNB and The Daily Star, this promise is part of a broader effort to mobilize global attention and resources for one of the world’s most pressing refugee situations.
The meeting was attended by key officials from both delegations, including Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed. Their presence underscored the high stakes and wide-ranging nature of the bilateral discussions. Meloni’s New York agenda also included meetings with other world leaders, such as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña Palacios, reflecting Italy’s active engagement on the global stage during the UNGA session from September 23 to 24, 2025.
Italy and Bangladesh’s commitment to tackling transnational organized crime—including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, terrorism, and cybercrime—was reaffirmed during the talks. This builds on an agreement reached in May 2025 to intensify cooperation through joint training, intelligence sharing, and the creation of a joint committee aimed at strengthening law enforcement collaboration. According to UNB, both sides are determined to address these issues head-on, recognizing the devastating toll that trafficking and smuggling have taken on vulnerable populations.
The proposed Italy–Bangladesh Business Forum is seen as a potential game changer for economic relations. Italy, already a significant investor in Bangladesh’s thriving textile and garment sectors, is eager to expand its footprint into new industries. For Bangladesh, deeper ties with Italy could mean more jobs, technology transfer, and access to European markets. The forum would serve as a platform for matching Italian business interests with Bangladeshi opportunities, promoting joint ventures, and fostering dialogue between government and private sector stakeholders.
Yet, the economic agenda is closely intertwined with migration policy. Italy’s demographic challenges—especially labor shortages in certain sectors—have prompted the government to look abroad for skilled and semi-skilled workers. By offering vocational training in Bangladesh, Italy hopes to create a legal, regulated pipeline for workers that benefits both countries. At the same time, both governments are acutely aware of the dangers posed by illegal migration and the imperative to shut down trafficking networks. As Meloni emphasized, it is crucial "to ensure safe migration pathways that would benefit both nations."
The Rohingya crisis, meanwhile, remains a test of international solidarity. Bangladesh’s willingness to host over a million refugees has drawn praise but also placed immense strain on its resources. The upcoming conference at the UN headquarters is expected to draw renewed attention to the plight of the Rohingya and the need for sustained humanitarian and political support. Meloni’s commitment to sending a high-level Italian delegation signals her government’s readiness to play a more active role in addressing the crisis.
As Bangladesh gears up for its February 2026 general election, the country stands at a crossroads. The support of international partners like Italy could prove pivotal in ensuring a credible and peaceful transition. With Meloni’s planned visit in December and the launch of the business forum on the horizon, both governments are betting on a future defined by deeper cooperation, safer migration, and shared responsibility for regional challenges.
The coming months will be critical as these initiatives move from diplomatic promise to practical reality. For now, the meeting in New York has set the stage for a new era in Italy–Bangladesh relations—one built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a commitment to tackling the most pressing issues of our time.
