The United Nations General Assembly has elected Khalilur Rahman from Bangladesh as its next president following a secret ballot. Rahman secured 99 votes, surpassing his opponent Kakouris, who received 91 votes. A total of 190 valid votes were cast, with no invalid or abstaining votes.
The UN General Assembly presidency rotates among the organization’s five regional groups, with the 81st session falling to the Asia-Pacific group. Rahman will assume this role for a one-year term beginning on September 8.
His presidency will coincide with one of the UN’s most significant processes: the election of a successor to Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term concludes on December 31, 2026.
Rahman brings over four decades of diplomatic and multilateral experience to the position. Serving as Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister since February, he has previously held roles such as National Security Advisor and High Representative for the Rohingya issue. A career diplomat who joined the Bangladesh foreign service in 1979, he has also served in senior UN positions in New York and Geneva.
‘With Reverence and Humility’
Accepting his new role, Rahman stated that he was taking on the responsibility “with reverence and humility” at a time when trust in the international system is being tested.
“The UN is about to begin its ninth decade at a time when trust is being tested on multiple fronts,” Rahman told member states. “These challenges, when they converge, tend to undermine public confidence and belief in our organization’s ability to deliver on its promises.”
A World Under Pressure
The election occurred during what the current General Assembly President, Annalena Baerbock, described as an exceptionally challenging period for multilateral diplomacy. Baerbock noted that the UN faces “not just headwinds, but immense pressure,” with consensus becoming increasingly difficult and defending the UN Charter a “daily imperative.”
“The role of the President of the General Assembly is no longer merely procedural,” Baerbock said, warning that the international environment is not expected to ease in the coming year. The General Assembly will continue to work on the implementation of the Summit of the Future, advancing reform efforts through the UN80 initiative, and navigating broader geopolitical divisions.
Secretary-General António Guterres echoed these concerns, stating that the world is grappling with “conflicts, divisions, rising inequality, and climate chaos.” Guterres also pointed to the slowing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), dwindling humanitarian and development funding, and international institutions being “stuck in the 1945 world, not the world of today.”
Six Priorities for the 81st Session
Rahman announced that his presidency would focus on six broad priorities: peace and security; accelerating progress on the SDGs; climate action and environmental protection; human rights; governance of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence; and UN reform. He pledged to leverage Bangladesh’s peacekeeping experience to support preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding, and civilian protection. He also emphasized the need to address development finance gaps, advance the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, and strengthen the UN’s effectiveness under increasing pressure.
‘Rebuilding Trust’
The overarching theme for Rahman’s session is “Rebuilding Trust, Navigating Transformation: A UN for All.” Secretary-General Guterres hailed this theme as “an inspiring call to action for the multilateral system,” reflecting a commitment to strengthening global cooperation.
Rahman, the president-elect, expressed his intention to act as a bridge-builder, vowing to engage with all member states and seek common ground despite growing divisions. “As your President, I will dedicate myself to building trust, fostering consensus, and creating space for good-faith negotiations that lead to outcomes owned by all,” he stated. He also pledged to uphold the UN Charter, maintain geographic and gender balance in his office, and support the needs of smaller delegations.
The General Assembly is the most representative organ of the UN, with all 193 member states represented by one vote each. While its resolutions are generally non-binding, the Assembly serves as the main forum for international negotiations on peace and security, development, human rights, and international law. The 81st session will open on September 8, with world leaders convening for annual high-level debates at UN Headquarters in New York two weeks later.
