Staff Reporter:
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is set to assume the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today, marking a defining moment for Bangladesh’s di-plomacy and enhancing the country’s global visibility.
The year-long presidency places a Bangladeshi diplomat at the helm of the UN’s most representa-tive organ at a critical juncture when conflicts, climate emergencies, development setbacks and eroding confidence in multilateralism are testing the international system.
Khalilur will open the 81st session at the UN Headquarters in New York at 3 pm local time on Tues-day, succeeding Germany’s former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.
His assumption of office will return Bangladesh to the UNGA presidency after four decades. Former foreign minister Humayun Rasheed Choudhury was the first Bangladeshi to hold the position, pre-siding over the 41st session in 1986-87.
Khalilur was elected on June 2 through a secret ballot, securing 99 votes against 91 received by Cy-prus’ candidate Andreas S Kakouris.
The presidency was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group under the UN’s regional rotation system.
Bangladesh earned the prestigious honor around four months after Prime Minister Tarique Rah-man assumed his office on February 17.
The premier is going to attend this UNGA session as well.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam yesterday described Khalilur’s election as an “immensely proud moment” and a significant diplomatic achievement reflecting Bangladesh’s re-newed international standing.
Shama also credited Khalilur’s diplomatic credentials and broad acceptability among UN member states, along with the collective efforts of officials at Bangladesh’s 81 diplomatic missions during the campaign.
