The Cabinet on Thursday congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The Cabinet extended its congratulations at a meeting held at the Public Administration Conference Room of the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting, which began at around 7:30pm.

According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, the meeting viewed Khalilur’s election to the prestigious post demonstrates Bangladesh’s increasing prestige, diplomatic capability and the confidence placed in the country in multilateral forums.

The Foreign Minister returned to Dhaka from New York earlier in the day.

Dr Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday by defeating Cyprus’ Ambassador Andreas Kakouris in a closely contested election.

In a secret-ballot vote at the UN headquarters in New York, Khalilur secured 99 votes against Kakouris’ 91, while three member states did not cast their votes.

He will succeed former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose one-year term will end in September.

Under the UN’s regional rotation system, the presidency of the 193-member General Assembly was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group for the 81st session.

The 81st session of the UN General Assembly will formally open on September 8, while the high-level General Debate featuring speeches by heads of state and government will begin on September 22.

As President of the General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman will preside over the session for one year.