Italy to support Yunus in carrying out key reforms: Meloni

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday called on Bangladesh to turn a “new page” in relations between Rome and Dhaka, saying the Italians were friends of Bangladesh.

The Italian Prime Minister made the decision during a meeting with Chief Advisor 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 briefly discussed the mass student uprising, which he said had created new opportunities for Bangladesh by pressing the “reset button” for the entire country, BSS reported.

Meloni said Italy would support the caretaker government led by Prof. Yunus to carry out key reforms in key sectors.

“Of course, you can count on us,” she said.

“Let’s try to turn over a new leaf in our relationship,” she added.

The top adviser has called on the Italian president to formalise migration from Bangladesh, which would allow more Bangladeshi workers to enter Italy through legal channels, which he said would reduce risky illegal migration.

Meloni agreed, saying the two countries should work together to stop illegal migration and provide training for those planning to work in Italy.

The meeting was attended by Advisor on Energy and Power Fouzul Kabir Khan, Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed and Head of Protocol Khandaker Masudul Alam.