Italy to expedite work visas for Bangladeshis: Envoy
The foreign secretary deeply appreciated Italy for being the generous host of the second largest Bangladesh Diaspora in Europe
Italy has pledged to promptly resolve pending work visa applications of Bangladeshi nationals, the Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, said today (12 September).
During his meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, the ambassador emphasised Italy's commitment to curbing irregular migration and promoting legal migration pathways for Bangladeshi workers.
Recognising Bangladesh as a key partner in migration, Italy expressed its desire to enhance migration cooperation.
The foreign secretary praised Italy for hosting the second-largest Bangladeshi diaspora in Europe, acknowledging their contribution to both economies. He urged the Italian ambassador to expedite the visa process through innovative solutions, offering Bangladesh's cooperation.
The ambassador explained that many applications are delayed due to interference from organised criminal networks, submission of counterfeit documents, and a surge in visa requests that exceeded the embassy's capacity. He assured that Italy has implemented strict measures against human trafficking and smuggling.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supporting the embassy in fast-tracking genuine visa applications, and additional staff will be deployed to expedite processing.
Both officials expressed optimism that the visa backlog would be cleared by the year's end, and discussions are ongoing for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two governments.
This agreement aims to facilitate skilled migration, curb illegal migration, and enhance cooperation on repatriations.