Bangladesh has secured one of the most prominent positions in global diplomacy after Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In a closely watched contest held at the UN headquarters, Rahman received 99 votes, defeating Ambassador Andreas S. Kakouris of the Republic of Cyprus, who secured 91 votes. The new UNGA session will begin on September 8, 2026, with the high-level general debate scheduled to start on September 22.
The victory marks a significant diplomatic achievement for Bangladesh, which will hold the presidency of the world's largest multilateral forum for only the second time in its history.
