Khalilur Rahman Elected UN General Assembly President

In a historic diplomatic triumph for Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has been elected as the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In a fiercely contested election held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Dr. Rahman secured the prestigious position by bagging 99 votes out of the 190 total votes cast by member states. His sole contender, Ambassador Andreas S. Kakouris of Cyprus, put up a strong fight but fell short, securing 91 votes.

A Landmark Victory for Bangladesh

Dr. Khalilur Rahman will steer the top UN body for a one-year term post official announcement. This milestone marks only the second time in history that a Bangladeshi diplomat has been chosen to lead the UN General Assembly, following the landmark presidency of Humayun Rashid Choudhury during the 41st session in 1986.

• Total Votes Cast: 190

• Dr. Khalilur Rahman (Bangladesh): 99 votes

• Andreas S. Kakouris (Cyprus): 91 votes

• Term Duration: One Year (Starting September 2026)

The presidency of the General Assembly rotates annually among five geographic groups. With the Asia-Pacific region holding the mantle for the upcoming 81st session, Bangladesh's strategic diplomacy successfully galvanized the necessary international backing.

Dr. Rahman will officially take over the gavel in September, succeeding the current UNGA President. World leaders and international diplomats have already begun showering the newly elected president with congratulations, anticipating a term focused on multilateralism, climate justice, and global peace.