After Nearly 40 Years, Bangladesh Takes the UN General Assembly Chair Again
Bangladesh has once again assumed the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly, nearly 40 years after it last held the position. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is now presiding over the 81st session, placing Bangladesh at the centre of the UN’s highest deliberative forum at a particularly difficult moment for global diplomacy.
In a Nutshell
- Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has assumed the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly.
- Bangladesh last held the presidency in 1986–87, when diplomat Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury served as UNGA president.
- Khalilur Rahman was elected on June 2, defeating Cyprus’s Andreas Kakouris by 99 votes to 91 in a closely contested election.
- The 81st session, held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all,” ran from September 8, 2026, to September 7, 2027.
- Rahman’s stated priorities include UN reform, peace, development, climate action, refugees, technology and stronger representation for developing countries.
Context
Khalilur Rahman’s election marks the second time a Bangladeshi has assumed the presidency, returning the country to the chair after nearly four decades. The position was first held by Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury, who presided over the General Assembly in 1986–87.
He secured 99 votes against 91 for Cyprus’s Andreas Kakouris, meaning the presidency was decided through a relatively close contest rather than an overwhelming margin. He was elected from the Asia-Pacific Group, in accordance with the UN’s established regional rotation.
The presidency comes at a complicated moment for the United Nations, with wars, geopolitical divisions, pressure for institutional reform and growing challenges around climate, development and displacement. Rahman will preside over an Assembly of 193 member states, rather than represent Bangladesh alone.
Khalilur Rahman Oath
“I solemnly declare that I shall truthfully perform my duties and exercise the functions entrusted to me as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations in all loyalty, discretion, and conscience, and that I shall discharge these functions and regulate my conduct with the interest of the United Nations only in view, and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the Code of Ethics for the President of the General Assembly, without seeking or accepting any instruction in regard to the performance of my duties from any government or other source external to the organization. Thank you.”
Why It Matters
For Bangladesh, this is more than another international appointment. A Bangladeshi presiding over the UN General Assembly for only the second time in the country’s history, and after an interval of nearly 40 years, is a moment of considerable national significance.
It also places issues that matter deeply to Bangladesh closer to the centre of global discussions. Climate vulnerability, refugee protection, development financing and the concerns of developing countries are among the areas Rahman has identified within his broader agenda. The timing makes the moment even more significant. The UN is facing questions about whether multilateral institutions can still produce cooperation in an increasingly divided world.
What We Think
There is a particular sense of pride in seeing Bangladesh return to a position it last held nearly four decades ago. The span from 1986 to 2026 represents an entire generation in Bangladesh’s diplomatic history. This time, the significance also extends beyond the symbolism of having a Bangladeshi in the chair, as Rahman is expected to manage disagreements between powerful and often divided states while ensuring that smaller and developing countries remain heard.