FM Khalilur Rahman to assume presidency at UNGA session today

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) begins today, marking a significant chapter in Bangladesh's diplomacy. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman will assume the presidency of this most representative multilateral forum for a one-year term.

Dr Khalilur Rahman will inaugurate the 81st session at the UN headquarters in New York at 3pm local time on Tuesday, September 8. He will succeed Germany's former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock. The session will run until September 7, 2027, with the theme 'Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: An Effective UN for All'.

Ahead of the session, Dr Khalilur Rahman held a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York. The Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN congratulated him on assuming this new global leadership role.

Dr Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st General Assembly in an election held at the UN headquarters in New York on June 2. In that secret ballot election, he won with 99 votes, while his opponent, Andreas Kakouris of Cyprus, received 91 votes. A total of 190 votes were cast.

The presidency of the UN General Assembly rotates among the five regional groups of the UN. As the 81st session fell to the Asia-Pacific region, Dr Khalilur Rahman contested as the candidate from this region. His victory is considered a significant achievement for Bangladesh's diplomacy.

Earlier, Bangladesh's Humayun Rashid Chowdhury served as president of the 41st session of the UN General Assembly during the 1986-87 term. After nearly four decades, another Bangladeshi has assumed this important position.

The General Assembly, comprising representatives from 193 UN member states, is considered the organisation's chief policy-making and deliberative forum. It plays a crucial role in discussions and decision-making by member states on key global issues, including international peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.