10,000 Bangladeshi workers can go to Italy legally yearly: Shahe Alam

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said there is an opportunity for 10,000 Bangladeshi workers to legally go to Italy every year, with the figure rising to 12,000 when family members are included.

Nearly 250,000 Bangladeshis are living in Italy, while around 60-70% are from Shariatpur and Madaripur, he said while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan today (7 September).

Shahe Alam and Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan were also present at the meeting.

"There has been no discussion about legalising Bangladeshis who are currently living in Italy illegally," he said, adding that Italy has invited Bangladeshi architects for training, while Italian representatives will visit Bangladesh to provide language training to workers and trainers. 

Both sides agreed to cooperate on worker skills development, Italian-language training and environmental management, he said. 

Italy has expressed interest in working with Bangladesh on food waste prevention and food security, following the model of Milan, with Khulna City Corporation selected for the initiative, he said.

To discourage risky sea crossings and illegal migration, the government has proposed joint workshops in Shariatpur, Madaripur and Faridpur involving local administrations and public representatives, the state minister said.

Regarding Malaysia, Shahe Alam said Bangladesh has requested the country's high commissioner to facilitate recruitment of 200,000 Bangladeshi workers.

Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro said the meeting covered trade, migration and cooperation between cities. 

Although it was a courtesy meeting, he said, the discussions were fruitful and focused on further strengthening relations between Bangladesh and Italy.