Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was on Tuesday elected as the President of the 81st session (2026-2027) of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He defeated Cypriot candidate Andreas S. Defeated Kakouris in a tough contest. Rahman received 99 votes in the 193-member UN General Assembly, while Kakouris received 91 votes. While three countries did not vote. The majority required for the election was 96 votes. In this tough competition, Rahman defeated Kakouris.
Khalilur Rahman will replace former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose one-year term ends in September. The President of the United Nations General Assembly is elected annually by the 193 member states, with each country having an equal vote.
Will take charge in September
The newly elected Khalilur Rahman will assume office at the opening of the UN General Assembly session in September 2026 and will serve for a term of one year. During this time he will preside over plenary sessions, manage debates and facilitate negotiations between member countries.
Competition between candidates of Bangladesh and Cyprus
The presidency of the United Nations General Assembly keeps changing on a regional basis. This year the Asia-Pacific region got this opportunity. For the 81st session, the Asia-Pacific Group was given the right to nominate candidates, resulting in competition between primarily Bangladesh- and Cyprus-backed contenders. The post of President of the General Assembly is considered mainly ceremonial, but its global prestige is quite important. The General Assembly is the platform where all small and big countries express their views and the largest conference of world leaders is organized every year in September.
This is the part of the United Nations where all small and big countries can express their views. It is also the site of the only annual summit of world leaders held in September. The General Assembly controls the UN budget, adopts treaties, addresses global issues ranging from poverty to corruption, and passes a number of resolutions that are not legally binding but almost always reflect global opinion.
What did Khalilur Rahman say
In his address, Khalilur Rahman said that the 81st session will begin in such a historic period when the credibility of the United Nations is being tested on many fronts. He said that wars and conflicts are continuously causing huge losses to humanity, while development achievements are also becoming unsustainable. He expressed concern over the decline in human rights and freedoms in many places. He also said that the resources and opportunities available for humanitarian aid are also becoming increasingly limited.
The financial situation of the United Nations is also a big challenge
The newly elected President also described the financial situation of the United Nations as a serious challenge. He said that the organization is currently facing economic pressure and to deal with this problem, cooperation of all member countries will be required. The United States, one of the largest contributors to the UN budget, owes the organization billions of dollars, which has deepened the financial crisis.
Secretary General Guterres congratulated
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, congratulating Khalilur Rahman on his victory, said that his extensive political and diplomatic experience is a guarantee of success not only for the General Assembly, but for the entire United Nations. He also praised Rahman’s commitment to the United Nations reform programme.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also congratulated
Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Minister S Jaishankar also congratulated Khalilur Rahman. While sharing a post on the social media platform, he said, ‘Congratulations to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman on being elected President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. We look forward to working together with him to advance our shared priorities and strengthen multilateral cooperation.
Congratulations to FM Dr. Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh on his election as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. @UN_PGA
Look forward to working closely with him to advance our shared priorities and strengthen multilateral cooperation.
—Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 2, 2026
Khalilur Rahman, who emerged amid the political changes after the 2024 student movement in Bangladesh, will now play an important role in tackling the world’s major challenges by leading the United Nations General Assembly on the global stage. Rahman was chosen as foreign minister in February by the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, whose party won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. These elections were the country’s first after the student-led uprising in 2024 that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.
Rehman had previously served as National Security Advisor and Ambassador in the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammad Yunus.
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