Describing the election for the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as “highly contested,” Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir has said Bangladesh, as a soft power, will play a positive role in promoting global stability.
“Bangladesh is a soft power. It is an emerging tiger that engages in international politics from a soft-power perspective, seeking to mediate and influence outcomes for the greater good,” he told reporters in New York soon after Bangladesh’s victory against Cyprus on Tuesday night.
Kabir said the election was highly competitive and that Bangladesh had taken a bold decision to enter the race.
“We were confident of the support that our prime minister enjoys, backed by a two-thirds majority of our people. The Prime Minister gave us the confidence and support to put forward our candidature, despite entering the contest relatively late,” he said.
The adviser noted that Cyprus had invested greater resources with the backing of a coalition of European countries.
“Despite that, we moved forward with full confidence, and within just three and a half months of our government taking office, we were able to overturn Cyprus’s support base,” he said, adding that the government worked diligently to secure every vote.
“We truly earned this victory. We were confident that through a democratic vote, we could convince the world that Bangladesh is a dynamic and forward-looking nation. Bangladesh can lead and exert influence for the greater good,” he said.
Kabir described the outcome as a major success for Bangladesh’s political and diplomatic efforts and congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the achievement.
“This is the people’s victory and a reflection of their confidence in our government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. It is a proud moment and a defining hour for Bangladesh at the United Nations,” he said.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister and President-elect of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr Khalilur Rahman, 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 vote, Rahman defeated Cyprus’ Ambassador Andreas Kakouris 99-91, with three countries not voting. He will succeed Germany’s former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, whose one-year term ends in September.