Bangladesh Elected to Lead 81st UN General Assembly Session

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly for its 81st session on 2 June 2026 at the General Assembly Hall in UN Headquarters, New York. He won 99 votes out of 190 ballots cast and defeated Andreas S. Kakouris of Cyprus, who received 91 votes.

United Nations General Assembly Presidency

The President of the United Nations General Assembly is elected by member states for a one-year term. The 81st session will begin on 8 September 2026, and the presidency for this session was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group under the UN’s regional rotation system.

Election Procedure and Voting

The UN General Assembly elects its President by secret ballot in the General Assembly Hall. In this election, 190 ballots were cast, and the winning candidate secured a simple majority of the votes.

Role of the General Assembly President

The President of the General Assembly presides over plenary meetings, manages the session’s agenda, and facilitates discussions among member states. The office is one of the principal positions in the UN system and is separate from the office of the UN Secretary-General.

Important Facts for Exams

• The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
• The UN General Assembly has 193 member states as of 2026.
• The President of the General Assembly serves a one-year term.
• The Asia-Pacific Group is one of the five regional groups used in UN elections and appointments.

Background of the Elected President

Khalilur Rahman has more than four decades of diplomatic and multilateral experience. He has served as Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser and as High Representative on the Rohingya Issue.