Published: 12:24 AM, 03 June 2026
Khalilur elected President of 81st UNGA session
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), defeating a rival candidate from Cyprus in a vote held at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
Dr. Khalilur secured the prestigious position at the election conducted at the UN headquarters, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for Bangladesh on the global stage, said the foreign ministry's press release, reports BSS.
He won the election by defeating the candidate nominated by Cyprus for the presidency of the 81st session of the world body's highest deliberative forum.
The election of a Bangladeshi diplomat to the top UNGA post reflects the international community's confidence in Bangladesh's constructive role in promoting multilateralism, sustainable development, peace and international cooperation.
The President of the UN General Assembly presides over the sessions of the 193-member assembly and plays a key role in guiding discussions on major global issues and priorities.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its 80th session, its powers, composition, functions, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.
The United Nations General Assembly is responsible for the United Nations budget, appointing the non-permanent members to the Security Council, appointing the secretary-general of the United Nations, receiving reports from other parts of the United Nations System, and making recommendations through resolutions. It also establishes numerous subsidiary organs to advance or assist in its broad mandate. The United Nations General Assembly is the only United Nations organ where all member states have equal representation.
The General Assembly meets under its president or the United Nations secretary-general in annual sessions at the General Assembly Building, within the United Nations headquarters in New York City. The primary phase of these meetings generally runs from September through part of January until all issues are addressed, which is often before the next session starts.[5] It can also reconvene for special and emergency special sessions. The first session was convened on 10 January 1946 in the Methodist Central Hall in London and included representatives of the 51 founding nations.
Most questions are decided in the General Assembly by a simple majority. Each member country has one vote. Voting on certain important questions-namely recommendations on peace and security; budgetary concerns; and the election, admission, suspension, or expulsion of members-is by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. Apart from the approval of budgetary matters, including the adoption of a scale of assessment, Assembly resolutions are not binding on the members. The Assembly may make recommendations on any matters within the scope of the United Nations, except matters of peace and security under the Security Council's consideration.
