Khalilur Rahman takes charge as UNGA president today

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is set to assume the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today, formally opening the session at the UN headquarters in New York at 3pm.

Khalilur will succeed former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. He will become the second Bangladeshi to lead the UNGA, after Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, who served as president during the 1986–87 session.

Khalilur was elected on 2 June through a secret ballot, defeating Cyprus’ candidate Andreas S Kakouris by 99 votes to 91. His election is expected to enhance Bangladesh’s diplomatic visibility and strengthen its presence on the global stage.

He begins his one-year tenure at a challenging time for the international community, with armed conflicts, climate emergencies, development setbacks and declining confidence in multilateralism putting the global system under growing pressure.

The UNGA presidency was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group under the UN’s regional rotation system.

Bangladesh secured the position about four months after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took office on 17 February. The prime minister is also scheduled to attend this year’s UNGA session.

In his acceptance speech, Khalilur pledged to work with all UN member states to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness, credibility and relevance, while emphasising the need to revive and strengthen multilateralism. His tenure will also overlap with the selection of the next UN secretary-general, as António Guterres’ term expires on 31 December 2026. Guterres congratulated Khalilur following his election.

Khalilur joined the Bangladesh Foreign Service in 1979 and subsequently held senior positions within the UN system in New York and Geneva, including at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The high-level general debate of the 81st UNGA is scheduled to begin later this month, bringing heads of state and government from around the world to New York.