United News of Bangladesh

Japan has extended its warmest congratulations to Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The Embassy of Japan in Dhaka in a message on Wednesday wished him every success as he undertakes this important responsibility. “We look forward to further deepening the Japan-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership through even closer collaboration at the United Nations and in other multilateral fora,” it said. Khalilur Rahman, president-elect of the 81st UNGA session, said he is assuming the role “with humility and respect” at a time when confidence in the international system is under considerable strain. His presidency will coincide with one of the most significant processes on the UN calendar, the selection of a successor to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term concludes on December 31, 2026. The 81st session of the General Assembly will open on September 8, with world leaders scheduled to gather at UN Headquarters in New York two weeks later for the annual high-level debate. In a secret-ballot election, Khalilur Rahman secured 99 votes while Andreas Kakouris of Cyprus received 91. A total of 190 ballots were cast, with no invalid votes or abstentions.