Bangladesh Wins Presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly Session

In the vote among UN member states, Rahman received 99 votes, defeating Cyprus’s candidate, Andreas S. Kakouris, who secured 91 votes. Rahman will serve as President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly for a one-year term.

The election was held on Tuesday at the UN Headquarters in New York City, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres present during the voting process.

The victory marks the second time a Bangladeshi representative has been elected to lead the UN General Assembly. The first was Humayun Rashid Choudhury, who served as President of the 41st session of the General Assembly in 1986. Choudhury, a former Foreign Secretary and later Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, held the prestigious UN position while serving in the country's government.

Bangladesh’s election to the presidency of the General Assembly is being viewed as a significant diplomatic achievement and a reflection of the country’s growing engagement in international affairs.