United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Italy have 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 on the just concluded visit of Italian Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi who paid an official visit to Bangladesh on May 5-6. One of the key outcomes of the visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration and Mobility between the two governments, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday. FIPA key to boosting Canadian investor confidence: Canada’s Indo-Pacific envoy For Bangladesh, this MoU reflects the government’s commitment to expanding labour markets abroad, securing remittance inflows and uplifting the lives of people through legal migration pathways. For Italy, it offers a solution to the challenges of labour shortages while promoting safe, orderly and regular migration. This MoU will also help address irregular migration jointly and more effectively, including in line with the provisions of the ‘Standard Operating Procedures for the Identification and Return of Persons without an Authorisation to Stay’ signed between Bangladesh and the EU in 2017, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the visit, he met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. Piantedosi also held bilateral meetings with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain; Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Lt General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.  The visit reaffirmed the longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Italy, grounded in mutual respect, shared values and common interests. During the visit, both sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations and discussed a wide range of issues, including security cooperation, migration management, law enforcement collaboration, streamlined visa processing arrangements and the welfare of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Italy. The two countries also reflected on the shared desire of Bangladesh and Italy to foster a mutually beneficial partnership for promoting economic growth, social development and the well-being of their people. Cross-border assistance works only when individuals are safe on both sides: EU During his meeting with the Chief Adviser, Piantedosi reaffirmed Italy’s continued support for the Interim Government of Bangladesh and its initiatives for political and socio-economic reforms, echoing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s commitment conveyed during her meeting with the Bangladesh Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2024 in New York. Describing Italy as a valued partner of Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser stressed the need for expanding bilateral trade, including through greater market access, business-to-business partnerships, and joint ventures in sectors such as textiles, leather, information technology, and food processing. He also laid emphasis on deepening bilateral relations through enhanced cooperation in diverse areas, including, innovation, climate change, renewable energy, education, cultural exchange, migration and people-to-people links, especially the youth. While meeting the Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Italian Minister emphasised promoting mutual prosperity through labour mobility. In view of the increasing demand for skilled workers in Italy and the potential for Bangladesh to provide a well-trained, hardworking and young workforce, the Bangladesh Expatriates’ Welfare Adviser requested for considering increased quotas for skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi workers under the legal migration pathways. Both of them also agreed to explore concrete avenues for enhancing skills development initiatives. They expressed their willingness to work together to promote formal remittance channels and reiterated their commitment to ensuring the dignity, safety and wellbeing of migrant workers. During the meeting between the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser and the Italian Interior Minister, the two dignitaries acknowledged the significant contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora to both economies. They underscored the need for enhancing legal migration pathways and addressing irregular migration through joint efforts. The Bangladesh Foreign Adviser appreciated the government of Italy for hosting the second-largest Bangladeshi diaspora in Europe. He also urged to resolve the issue of pending visa applications with the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka, particularly for those with genuine work permits, at the earliest. At the same time, he requested for finding suitable alternatives to expedite the verification of work permits by the Italian Provincial Immigration Office.  Both the Bangladesh Home Adviser and the Italian Interior Minister, in a bilateral meeting, welcomed the ongoing collaboration between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries. Piantedosi also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation on the repatriation of those arriving illegally. The two sides concurred on organising a visit of the head of government of Italy to Bangladesh at an early date. The Italian minister expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s efforts to stabilize the economy and accelerate growth as well as its generous hosting of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. The Bangladesh side acknowledged Italy’s continued support within the European Union and international forums. Both sides expressed confidence that the outcomes of the visit would further strengthen the partnership between Bangladesh and Italy and lay the foundation for deeper collaboration in areas of mutual interest.    

Bangladeshi businesses and their Singaporean counterparts discussed business prospects, trade, and investment opportunities between their countries at an international business networking event in Dhaka Wednesday. They also spoke about how the firms of both countries can expand businesses for bilateral interests. A delegation of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the apex business chamber promoting the interests of Singapore businesses in trade, investment and industrial relations, is now in Bangladesh to understand the country's investment climate. To connect local businesses with global ones to boost bilateral growth and opportunities, Bangladeshi Charter Accountancy firm Howlader Maria and Co (HmAC) and, organised the event at a Dhaka hotel. Read more: Bangladesh shares its aspirations with Singapore to emerge as facilitator of regional connectivity Maria Howlader, founder and CEO of HmAC, Soo Wei Chai, executive director of Global Business Division and Young Business Leaders Network of SBF, business leaders, chief executives officers of different companies, and business firms from both countries were present at the meeting. Businesses from Singapore have great opportunities to invest in Bangladesh, including in information technology, pharmaceuticals and hospitality as the country offers attractive tax exemptions and other facilities, participants from local businesses said. The Singapore delegation from multiple sectors shared their investment plans and tried to find out business opportunities in different sectors such as IT, agriculture, and construction. They also said Bangladeshi businesses can also expand their businesses by investing in Singapore. Read more: Singapore upbeat about Bangladesh’s economic potential Thanking the participants from both Singapore and Bangladeshi business houses, Maria said, "The networking event represents how we feel about doing business in Bangladesh and matching business to business" for further growth and expansion. Maria said Bangladesh has many inspiring stories of growth and development, with a strong track record of growth and development even amid rising global uncertainties.    

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne has said that his counyry wants to see Bangladesh as a strategic partner, noting that the two countries need to take care of each other in a newly evolving globalized world. “This partnership becomes imperative as our alignment revolves around the protection of the seascape embracing the two lands,” he said, emphasizing that the two countries are also stakeholders of the larger family represented by the SAARC, BIMSTEC and IORA. In his recent speech marking the 50 years of Bangladesh-Sri Lanka friendship shared with media on Saturday, High Commissioner Seneviratne, who was also the first Sri Lankan to receive both Masters and Doctoral Degrees from India’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, said Dhaka and Colombo need to prosper together. The envoy, also Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Bhutan, said one of the focal points and dynamics of the global power blocks is their engagement and aspirations in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Also read: US envoy meets Hasan Mahmud “We are now witnessing a sharply evolving competitive spirit that is setting the tone for the future of South Asia,” he said, adding that the global neoliberal political and economic order is beginning to aggressively impact the region. It may effectively alter the balance of power and cordiality within the South Asian neighbourhood, said the envoy. “Its impact is mainly felt over the seascape of the Bay of Bengal.” He said their two lands hold an equally important role at the two strategic ends of the Bay of Bengal representing the “gateway” entry and exit points to the larger World systems. “The Bay of Bengal essentially is an Oceanic highway. As such, the futuristic staying power and sustenance of our two countries revolve around the protection of the seascape of the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal,” said the high commissioner. It is now recognized that the Bay of Bengal is one of the richest resource areas in the world, hence the high competitive premium placed on its natural and human wealth, he said. Seneviratne wished another 50 years of friendship and solidarity between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as a gift to the people of the two countries and to the world. Also read: No proposal made to US to bring BNP to polls: Momen He said aviation and shipping are making headway with official discussions at the ministerial level on coastal shipping, mutual birthing rights and warehouse facilities which are under discussion. Private sector shipping companies from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka most recently commenced working on joint ventures and the government-owned shipping corporations are working together, he said. As for reverse investments, it is heartening to learn that Bangladesh has lifted the restriction of movement of capital as FDI’s, said the high commissioner. Though limited, there was an outflow of FDI to Sri Lanka between 2005 and 2019 amounting to around 4 million US$. “Sri Lanka is looking towards initial investments from Bangladesh and we have on track tourism, shipping and pharma,” he said. Seneviratne said, “We also need to strike a balance between the two brother nations so that trade balance needs to be rectified. As of now, the trade balance is in favour of Sri Lanka at US$105 million.” The near completion of the preferential trade agreement (PTA) will provide greater opportunities for closing the uneven flow, he said.