Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to Retain Portfolio After Election to UN General Assembly Presidency
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Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman returned to Dhaka on Thursday following his election as the president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Securing the prestigious post after defeating a candidate from Cyprus, Rahman characterized the diplomatic victory as a collective achievement for Bangladesh and a testament to the strong leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rahman expressed his gratitude toward the Prime Minister, noting that without her unwavering support and decisive direction, the complex decade-long path to securing this candidacy would not have been navigated in just ten weeks. He further credited the success to the coordinated efforts of the ministry’s staff, overseas diplomatic missions, and the prime ministerial advisory team.
Addressing speculation regarding whether he would take a leave of absence from his cabinet duties to fulfill his UN responsibilities, Rahman urged observers to remain patient. He dismissed the urgency of the question by citing historical precedent, noting that former Foreign Minister Humayun Rashid Chowdhury had served as president of the UN General Assembly while simultaneously holding his ministerial portfolio forty years ago.
Rahman emphasized that the modern digital era has rendered the simultaneous management of both roles far more feasible than in the past. He clarified that, unlike some international counterparts who have stepped down from ministerial posts while serving at the UN, his circumstances remain distinct, as those transitions were often dictated by domestic political shifts or electoral losses within their respective political parties.
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