UN General Assembly Presidency Election today

The election for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will be held today (June 2), with Bangladesh vying to secure the prestigious position for only the second time in its history.

The vote is scheduled to begin at 8:00pm Bangladesh time (10:00am New York time) at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York.

Representing Bangladesh in the race is Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, who is contesting against Cyprus' Special Envoy Andreas Kakouris. A victory for the Bangladeshi candidate would mark the country's return to the UNGA presidency after nearly 40 years.

Bangladesh last held the position in 1986, when former foreign secretary and foreign minister Humayun Rashid Choudhury was elected president of the 41st session of the General Assembly.

The candidacy has undergone several developments over the past year. The interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus had initially nominated then foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain for the post. However, Bangladesh later suspended its campaign while retaining the nomination after Palestine entered the race. Following Palestine's withdrawal, Bangladesh revived its bid, and after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was formally nominated in February.

During an interactive dialogue with UN member states on May 13, Khalilur Rahman presented a six-point vision for the General Assembly. Responding to questions regarding his ministerial position, he said there was no requirement for him to resign as foreign minister if elected, adding that he could be granted leave or temporary exemption from ministerial duties during his tenure.

The government has expressed strong optimism about Bangladesh's prospects in the election. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed said on Monday that Khalilur Rahman's extensive experience within the UN system has placed Bangladesh in a strong position.

She also noted that any decision regarding his continuation as foreign minister, if elected UNGA president, would rest with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

According to the government, there is no legal restriction preventing him from holding the international role while remaining a member of the cabinet.

If elected, Khalilur Rahman’s victory would represent a significant diplomatic achievement for Bangladesh and further strengthen the country's profile within the United Nations system.