Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister said, “Many congratulations to our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khalilur Rahman, on his election as the President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.”
He said this achievement reflects Bangladesh’s increasing contribution and credibility on the global stage.
“We believe he will proudly represent Bangladesh and forge connectivity, dialogue, and cooperation in addressing multilateral, shared challenges,” Tarique Rahman said.
He also wished Khalilur Rahman every success in carrying out his new responsibilities.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected president of the 81st session of the UNGA after defeating Cyprus in a closely contested election held at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
Of the 190 votes cast, Bangladesh secured 99, while Cyprus received 91.
Under the UN’s regional rotation system, the presidency of the 81st session was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group.
Bangladesh last held the position in 1986-87, when former Foreign Minister Humayun Rasheed Choudhury served as president of the 41st session of the General Assembly.
The 81st session of the UNGA is scheduled to open on September 8, 2026, while the annual high-level General Debate will begin on September 22.