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Cyprus was narrowly defeated in its bid to lead the United Nations General Assembly after Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Khalilur Rahman, secured the presidency of the body's 81st session in a closely fought election on Tuesday.
Rahman received 99 votes in the secret ballot, while Cyprus' candidate, Andreas Kakouris, won 91. A total of 190 member states took part in the vote, with all ballots deemed valid.
The presidency rotates between the UN’s regional groups, and the upcoming session falls under the Asia-Pacific group, making Bangladesh eligible to nominate a candidate. Rahman will officially assume the role on September 8 for a one-year term.
His tenure will coincide with several major developments at the United Nations, including preparations for the selection of a new secretary-general. The term of current UN chief António Guterres expires on December 31, 2026, making the coming year particularly significant for the organisation.
Rahman brings decades of diplomatic experience to the position. He became Bangladesh’s foreign minister earlier this year and previously held senior government posts, including national security adviser and special representative on Rohingya affairs. During a diplomatic career spanning more than 40 years, he also worked in senior UN-related positions in New York and Geneva.
In remarks following his election, Rahman said the UN faces a period in which confidence in international institutions has been weakened by multiple global challenges. He called for efforts to rebuild trust among member states and strengthen the organisation’s ability to respond to international problems.
Outgoing General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the current international environment as particularly demanding, saying that reaching agreement between countries has become increasingly difficult. She said the responsibilities of the Assembly’s president now extend well beyond procedural duties.
Guterres also pointed to a range of challenges confronting the international community, including armed conflicts, inequality, climate-related threats, slow progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and financial pressures affecting humanitarian and development programmes.
Rahman has identified six key areas that he intends to prioritise during the session: peace and security, sustainable development, climate action, human rights, regulation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and reform of the United Nations.
He said he would work to encourage dialogue between member states, support diplomatic solutions to conflicts and improve the effectiveness of the organisation at a time when international cooperation is under strain.
The General Assembly brings together all 193 UN member states, each with an equal vote. While its resolutions are generally non-binding, it remains the principal forum where governments debate issues relating to international peace and security, development, human rights and international law.
World leaders are expected to gather at UN headquarters in New York later in September for the annual high-level debate marking the start of the new session.
