Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, has been elected President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for its 81st session after a closely contested vote in New York, United States.
Rahman defeated Cyprus candidate Andreas Kakouris in a secret ballot held at the UN headquarters on Tuesday, securing 99 votes against Kakouris’ 91. A total of 190 ballots were cast, with no invalid votes or abstentions recorded.
The presidency of the United Nations General Assembly rotates among the UN’s five regional groups, with the Asia-Pacific group producing the president for the 81st session.
Rahman is expected to assume office on September 8, 2026, and will serve a one-year term. His tenure will coincide with a critical period for the United Nations, including the process to select a successor to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose tenure ends on December 31, 2026.
A seasoned diplomat, Rahman has more than four decades of experience in international relations. He previously served as Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser and High Representative on the Rohingya crisis, and has also held senior positions within the UN system in New York and Geneva.
Reacting after his election, Rahman said he accepted the role “with humility and respect,” noting that the global system is currently facing significant strain.
He warned that trust in multilateral institutions is being challenged, adding that the UN must work harder to deliver on its promises amid growing global tensions and uncertainty.
Outgoing UNGA President Annalena Baerbock described the current global climate as one marked by “immense pressure,” stressing that diplomacy is becoming increasingly difficult and consensus harder to achieve among member states.
Rahman outlined six key priorities for his presidency: peace and security, accelerated progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate action, human rights protection, governance of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, and reforms within the UN system.
He also pledged to promote preventive diplomacy, strengthen peacebuilding efforts, and support civilian protection, drawing on Bangladesh’s long-standing involvement in UN peacekeeping operations.
Under the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All,” Rahman said his leadership would focus on rebuilding confidence in the global body and encouraging cooperation among member states despite rising geopolitical divisions.
The UN General Assembly, which brings together all 193 member states on an equal voting basis, remains the world’s most representative multilateral forum. Although its resolutions are generally non-binding, it plays a central role in global discussions on peace, security, development, and international law.
The 81st session of the Assembly will officially open on September 8, 2026, followed by the annual high-level debate where world leaders are expected to gather at the UN headquarters in New York.
