UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK — In a closely contested secret ballot, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The landmark election positions the seasoned Bangladeshi diplomat to steer the 193-member world body through a transformative year defined by intensifying global crises, structural reform, and an impending transition in UN leadership.
Out of 190 ballots cast by member states, Dr. Rahman secured 99 votes, defeating Cypriot diplomat Andreas Kakouris, who garnered 91 votes. Representing the Asia-Pacific group under the UN’s regional rotation system, Dr. Rahman will officially assume office on September 8, 2026. He succeeds the outgoing 80th UNGA President, Annalena Baerbock of Germany.
Dr. Rahman’s one-year term arrives at a highly consequential moment. His presidency will coincide with the high-stakes selection process for the successor to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term concludes at the end of December 2026.
Accepting the role, Dr. Rahman emphasized the urgency of restoring public trust in the international body. He unveiled the official theme for the upcoming session: “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.”
“We must collectively demonstrate that the UN can adapt, reform, and better deliver, and justify every penny Member States contribute, in order to restore trust in our Organization,” Dr. Rahman stated during his address to the General Assembly.
The President-elect outlined six core pillars for his upcoming tenure:
Peace and Security
Accelerating the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Climate Action and Environmental Protection
Human Rights Advocacy
Governance of Emerging Technologies (including AI)
Comprehensive UN Reform
A career diplomat who entered the foreign service in 1979, Dr. Rahman brings over four decades of multilateral experience to the rostrum, having previously served as Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser and High Representative on the Rohingya Issue.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the election, noting the global body will benefit enormously from Dr. Rahman’s deep political and diplomatic expertise during a period of complex geopolitical headwinds