Bangladesh FM Khalilur Rahman elected president of 81st UNGA

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), securing a narrow victory over Cypriot diplomat Andreas Kakouris in a closely contested election held at the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday.According to agency reports,Rahman received 99 votes against Kakouris' 91 in the ballot conducted among the 193 member states of the United Nations. He will formally assume office in September when the 81st session of the General Assembly begins, succeeding current UNGA President Annalena Baerbock.
Congratulating Rahman on his election, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in a post on X that India looked forward to working closely with him to advance 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. Look forward to working closely with him to advance our shared priorities and strengthen multilateral cooperation,” Jaishankar said.

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

A seasoned diplomat, Rahman became Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister in February and has extensive experience in international diplomacy. During his career, he has served at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, worked within the UN system, and held the position of National Security Adviser.Addressing member states after his election, Rahman unveiled the theme of his presidency:“Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” He said the upcoming session would begin at a critical juncture for the international community, marked by geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainties and challenges to sustainable development.
“The eighty-first session of the Assembly will open at a historic crossroads,” Rahman said, stressing the need for collective action and stronger multilateral cooperation to address global crises and prevent what he described as “another lost decade” of development.Drawing attention to Bangladesh’s long-standing contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, he said the country’s experience would help guide efforts aimed at building consensus and strengthening international cooperation among member states.
Welcoming the outcome of the election, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated the organisation would benefit from Rahman’s extensive political and diplomatic experience. He noted that the incoming President would take charge of the Assembly at a time of significant challenges as well as important opportunities for the United Nations.
Current UNGA President Baerbock also congratulated Rahman, describing the forthcoming session as particularly consequential and expressing confidence in his ability to lead the work of all 193 member states while upholding the principles of the UN Charter.The United States likewise welcomed the election. US Deputy Permanent Representative Tammy Bruce expressed hope that Rahman would work to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the General Assembly while advancing its reform agenda.
Under the UN’s regional rotation system, the Asia-Pacific Group was entitled to nominate the President of the General Assembly for the upcoming session. Rahman’s election marks only the second time a Bangladeshi diplomat has held the post, following former Foreign Minister Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury, who served as President of the General Assembly during the 1986-87 session.The 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to open on September 8, while the high-level General Debate will commence on September 22. The session is expected to focus on major global issues, including ongoing conflicts, economic challenges, UN reforms and the process for selecting the next UN Secretary-General.