UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has congratulated Bangladeshi foreign minister Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Mr Rahman secured the most votes in an election held at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. The results were announced following the conclusion of voting by the current President of the UNGA and former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock.

She said a total of 190 votes were cast. Bangladesh’s candidate, Mr Rahman, secured 99 votes, defeating his rival, Cyprus ambassador Andreas  Kakouris, who received 91 votes, by a margin of eight votes.

With the victory, Mr Rahman secured the Asia-Pacific Group’s rotational seat for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Mr Guterres told the president-elect that his remarkable political and diplomatic experience was a guarantee of success for the benefit not only of the General Assembly but of the United Nations as a whole. He assured the president-elect of his support as he takes on this important responsibility.

According to him, as the fifth woman to serve as president of the General Assembly, she has consistently reminded us that women’s rights are embedded in the UN’s founding principles and essential to global justice.

The UN chief then told the president-elect that he was taking the reins of the 81st General Assembly at a moment of deep challenge but also profound possibility “for our organisation”.

Mr Guterres added that human suffering has been increasing even as humanitarian needs have reached record levels, and funding for life-saving aid and sustainable development continues to decrease.

He said that although the challenges were stark, the diplomacy and dialogue among member states provided hope.

(NAN)