Khalilur Rahman elected president of UN General Assembly

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Khalilur Rahman has been elected president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He defeated Cyprus' Special Envoy for Multilateralism Andreas S Kakouris to secure the prestigious post for a one-year term.

The result was announced on Tuesday following the formal election held at the UN General Assembly hall at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Out of 193 member states, Khalilur received 99 votes, while his only rival, Andreas, secured 91 votes.

The outgoing president of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, announced the result in the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Khalilur Rahman was present at the UN headquarters during the announcement of the result. Upon hearing the news of his victory, he was seen expressing gratitude to the Almighty. He later addressed the General Assembly after being elected president.

With this victory, a Bangladeshi representative will once again hold the presidency of the UN General Assembly. 

In 1986, Bangladesh’s former foreign minister Humayun Rasheed Choudhury served as president of the 41st session of the UN General Assembly.

‘Landmark victory’

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and China congratulated Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the UNGA.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this landmark victory is a strong testament to the confidence and trust that the international community places in Bangladesh, as well as to the country’s growing diplomatic stature and constructive engagement within the multilateral system.

This achievement is not only the election of a Bangladeshi candidate to one of the most distinguished positions within the United Nations; it also constitutes a significant international recognition of Bangladesh’s long-standing commitment to multilateral diplomacy, international peace and security, sustainable development, and global cooperation, the ministry said in a press statement. 

The successful outcome reflects the convergence of three key factors: the visionary leadership and timely guidance of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the coordinated and intensive diplomatic efforts undertaken by Bangladesh within a limited timeframe, and the extensive experience, professional excellence, and international standing of Khalilur Rahman.

At the time the BNP-led government assumed office, less than three months remained before the election, it said. 

“Despite the limited preparation period, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took a firm and decisive position in support of Bangladesh’s candidacy. By nominating Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, he expressed strong confidence that Bangladesh would emerge victorious through focused diplomatic engagement and strategic outreach to Member States.”

In this context, the prime minister recalled Bangladesh’s successful election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 1978. 

At that time, under the courageous and visionary leadership of the late president Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh mounted an effective diplomatic campaign within a short period and prevailed over the then formidable candidate, Japan, to secure its election to the Security Council. 

Drawing inspiration from that historic achievement, Tarique Rahman had expressed firm confidence from the outset that Bangladesh would similarly succeed in the election for the presidency of the 81st session of the General Assembly.

“One of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh has been the severe limitation of time. Although Bangladesh formally announced its candidature in 2020, the Government nominated Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman as its candidate on 27 February 2026, following which the country launched its full-scale international campaign.”

The foreign ministry said that through high-level bilateral meetings, sustained diplomatic outreach, and multilateral engagement with all 193 UN member states, Bangladesh has actively sought to build broad international support within a very short time. “Bangladesh, in practical terms, has successfully conducted five years’ worth of diplomatic campaigning in just three months.”

In contrast, Cyprus announced its candidature as early as 2016 and has maintained a continuous campaign for nearly a decade, particularly intensifying its outreach efforts over the past year. 

Bangladesh’s campaign has been spearheaded by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, supported by Bangladesh’s missions and embassies worldwide.

The distinguished professional experience, diplomatic acumen, and proven leadership credentials of Bangladesh’s candidate contributed significantly to this landmark achievement, according to the ministry. 

A major milestone in the campaign came on 13 May 2026, when Bangladesh’s candidate Khalilur participated in the Interactive Dialogue organised by the current president of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock. 

During the two-and-a-half-hour session, Khalilur presented his vision statement and outlined his priorities and work plan for leading the General Assembly. The dialogue was widely praised within diplomatic circles.

Following these extensive engagements and consultations, nearly 30 member states formally conveyed their support for Bangladesh’s candidacy, reinforcing growing confidence in the country’s vision and leadership. This broad-based endorsement placed Bangladesh on a clear and credible path towards electoral success.

The ministry said Bangladesh's campaign has placed particular emphasis on strengthening effective multilateralism, safeguarding the interests of developing countries, enhancing international cooperation for climate-vulnerable states, advancing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, supporting UN peacekeeping efforts, and amplifying the voice of the Global South. 

The campaign has been widely viewed as issue-based, inclusive, and grounded in principles. 

According to the statement, the government of Bangladesh expressed its profound appreciation to the member states of the United Nations for the trust and confidence reposed in the country through this historic election. 

The government further reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and to working constructively with all member states in advancing multilateralism, international peace and security, sustainable development, and effective global cooperation, it added.