Dr. Khalilur Rahman Assumes Presidency of the UN General Assembly

Bangladesh has assumed the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York — a major milestone in the country’s diplomatic history. Yesterday, the newly elected President of the UN General Assembly and Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman took part in a press conference at 8:45 PM Bangladesh time, and was sworn in at 9:00 PM. At 1:00 AM Bangladesh time, he presided over the first plenary meeting of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Mr. Khalilur succeeds former German Foreign Minister Ms. Annalena Baerbock as President of the 193-member General Assembly for a one-year term. His assumption of office marks Bangladesh’s return to the presidency of the UN General Assembly after four decades.

Former Foreign Minister Mr. Humayun Rashid Chowdhury was the first Bangladeshi to hold this position, presiding over the 41st session of the General Assembly in 1986-87. Dr. Khalilur Rahman was elected on June 2 through a secret ballot vote, receiving 99 votes, while Cyprus’s candidate, Mr. Andreas S. Kakouris, received 91 votes.

Under the United Nations’ regional rotation system, the presidency this time was designated for the Asia-Pacific region. Ahead of the new session, UN Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres met with Dr. Khalilur Rahman last Monday at UN headquarters in New York. The UN’s Bangladesh office shared this information and extended “warm congratulations and best wishes” to the newly elected President of the General Assembly.