Dhaka pushes Khalilur for UNGA chair after Palestine exit
In a significant diplomatic development, Palestine has withdrawn its candidacy for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (2026-2027 term), clearing the path for Bangladesh to formally enter the race from the Asia-Pacific Group.
A diplomatic source confirmed that following Palestine’s withdrawal, Bangladesh will now contest the prestigious post against Cyprus.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has nominated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as Bangladesh’s candidate for the position.
Notably, Dhaka had floated its candidature earlier, even before Palestine stepped aside.
The election for the President of the 81st session will be held on June 2, 2026, at the UN Headquarters in New York, in accordance with Rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure. Under the UN’s established regional rotation system, the presidency for the 81st session will be elected from the Asia-Pacific Group.
The current President of the 80th session, Annalena Baerbock, is scheduled to convene informal interactive dialogues with the candidates in May 2026 — a key diplomatic platform where contenders present their vision to member states.
For Bangladesh, the bid carries both symbolic and strategic importance. The country last held the top UNGA post in 1986–87, when then Foreign Minister Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury was elected President of the 41st General Assembly. Four decades later, Dhaka is seeking to reclaim that global leadership role.
The 81st session of the UNGA will open on September 8, 2026, with the high-level General Debate set to begin on September 22.
Earlier, the interim government had nominated former Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain as Bangladesh’s candidate. However, the latest move signals a recalibrated diplomatic strategy as Dhaka prepares for what could become a closely watched contest within the Asia-Pacific bloc.
If elected, Bangladesh would once again preside over the world’s largest multilateral forum at a time of mounting global challenges – a prospect diplomats say would significantly elevate the country’s profile on the international stage.
Source: UNB