Bangladesh Scores Major UN Victory as Khalilur Rahman Elected UNGA President, Defeating Key Rival in Close Race
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has been elected president of the 193-member United Nations General Assembly after winning a closely fought secret-ballot vote over Cyprus’s ambassador, Andreas K. Kakouris. Rahman secured 99 votes to Kakouris’s 91, with three countries abstaining from the vote. The contest had initially included a Palestinian candidate as well, but the race became a direct battle after Riyad Mansour withdrew.
Rahman will take office in September, succeeding former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock, whose one-year term ends then. The General Assembly presidency rotates annually among regional groups, and this year it was reserved for the Asia-Pacific region. Bangladesh last held the post in 1986, when then foreign minister Humayun Rashid Chowdhury was elected.
Rahman’s victory marks an important diplomatic moment for Bangladesh, which had announced its candidacy years ago. He is a Harvard-trained economist and an experienced diplomat who has previously worked in the UN secretariat and served as Bangladesh’s high representative on the Rohingya issue. His selection comes at a time when Bangladesh’s new government is seeking a larger role in multilateral diplomacy after major political changes in the country.
India quickly поздравulated Rahman after the vote. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he looked forward to working with the incoming Assembly president to advance shared priorities and strengthen multilateral cooperation. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, also congratulated Rahman and said India would continue to support multilateralism with the United Nations at its center.
Although the presidency of the General Assembly is largely ceremonial, it remains one of the most prestigious roles in global diplomacy. The Assembly is the forum where all UN member states can speak on equal footing. It also hosts the annual meeting of world leaders in September. Beyond that, it oversees the UN budget, adopts international treaties, and passes resolutions on major global concerns ranging from poverty to corruption.
Rahman takes over at a difficult moment for the United Nations. Wars in Ukraine and Gaza have highlighted the limits of the Security Council, where veto powers have often blocked action. As a result, the General Assembly has become a more visible platform for debate and global opinion. The UN is also under severe financial strain, with the United States, historically its largest contributor, reportedly behind on billions of dollars in dues.
In his address after the vote, Rahman said the 81st session would begin at a “historic crossroads” for the organization. He said conflicts that the UN was created to prevent continue to cause suffering, while weak growth, shrinking humanitarian aid, and declines in rights and freedoms are putting the world under pressure. He called on all member states to work together to address the UN’s financial challenges and to help reform the 80-year-old institution so it can better meet 21st-century demands.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated Rahman, praising his political and diplomatic experience and his commitment to reforming the UN.
