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Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for its 81st session (20262027) on Tuesday, defeating Cyprus’s candidate Andreas S Kakouris in a tightly fought vote that underscores the continuing importance of regional consensus-building within the global body.
Rahman secured 99 votes in the 193-member UNGA, while Kakouris received 91 votes. There were no abstentions. The required majority for the election was 96 votes.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar extended felicitations to his Bangladeshi counterpart over his appointment as the UNGA president.
In a social media post on X, FM Dar said, “Having closely engaged with him, I am confident that his vast diplomatic experience and steadfast commitment to multilateralism will guide the Assembly with distinction. I look forward to continuing our engagement at the United Nations and working together to strengthen multilateral cooperation, advance shared global priorities, and promote dialogue, peace and sustainable development.”
