Bangladesh’s Dr. Khalilur Rahman Elected President of UN General Assembly
Published : 02:18, 3 June 2026
In a significant diplomatic achievement for Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly after securing majority support from member states.
The election was held on June 2 at the UN Headquarters in New York, where Dr. Rahman won a closely contested vote with the backing of 99 countries.
A total of 190 UN member states participated in the election. Dr. Khalilur Rahman received 99 votes, defeating his rival, Cyprus’ Andreas S. Kakouris, who secured support from 91 member countries.
Bangladesh had conducted an extensive diplomatic campaign over the past three months to secure support for the prestigious international position.
Dr. Khalilur Rahman will serve as President of the UN General Assembly for a one-year term and will succeed former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in the role.
The victory is being viewed as a major milestone for Bangladesh’s diplomacy and a reflection of the country’s growing influence and credibility on the global stage.
