Bangladesh was released from the blacklist

Dhaka: At the request of the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Italian government has included Bangladesh in its seasonal and non-seasonal worker program. As a result, Bangladesh got off the blacklist.

From now on, Bangladeshi workers will have the opportunity to work in Italy on seasonal and non-seasonal visas in different categories every year.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told the media late Monday (October 12) that the Italian government had included Bangladesh in its seasonal and non-seasonal worker program. Previously, the Italian government withdrew the opportunity. The reason for this was that agricultural workers in Bangladesh violated the terms of the program by never returning to the country instead of returning to the country every season.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said during her visit to Rome this year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested that Bangladeshi workers be included in the seasonal and non-seasonal worker program. The Italian government, in response to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s request, provided this service to the citizens of Bangladesh.

Of the 16,000 Bangladeshis who went to Italy legally on seasonal work contracts (seasonal work visas) in the five years from 2008 to 2012 on the condition that they return to the country at the end of the season, only a handful have returned. Most of them have either stayed in Italy or moved to another European country. Due to the exodus trend, the Italian government blacklisted Bangladesh for the first time in 2013.

Bangladesh time: 0833 hours, October 13, 2020
MUM / TR / MKR