Bangladesh has been elected unanimously to serve as a Vice President of the Human Rights Council, the prime intergovernmental body of the United Nations responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. The decision was made on December 9 afternoon, when the Human Rights Council met for an organizational session pertinent to the Council’s work for the year 2025.

As an elected Vice-President, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva will join the bureau of the Human Rights Council from 01 January to 31 December 2025. It is noteworthy that the bureau of the Human Rights Council consists of one President and four Vice Presidents representing each of the five UN regional groups.

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The election process for Vice-Presidency started in October 2024, when Bangladesh expressed its interest in serving in the Bureau as the Vice President representing the Asia-Pacific Group (APG). The APG unanimously supported the candidature of Bangladesh for the Vice-Presidency and forwarded the nomination for the consideration of the wider memberships of the Council. Finally, the process culminated successfully when Bangladesh earned unanimous support of the entire Council membership to serve as Vice President.

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This marks the first time that Bangladesh is going to serve as the Vice President of this prestigious UN human rights body since the Human Rights Council was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006. This is yet another example of the trust and confidence that the international community reposes on Bangladesh under the prudent leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus as well as recognition of the active role and growing influence of Bangladesh in multilateralism.