OIC to back Bangladesh’s bid for UNGA presidency: Foreign minister

Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will actively campaign worldwide in support of Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from Saudi Arabia, the foreign minister said Bangladesh has received full and unequivocal backing from OIC member states for its bid.

He acknowledged that while Bangladesh enjoys strong support, it faces time constraints as rival Cyprus has been campaigning for nearly a year, whereas Dhaka has only a few months remaining to mobilise support.

“Extensive discussions were held with OIC partners to assess the situation and devise strategies to secure Bangladesh’s victory,” he said, adding that member countries assured not only their votes but also active global campaigning in favour of Bangladesh.

The minister noted that Palestine had recently withdrawn its candidature, clearing the path for Bangladesh to compete against Cyprus for the 2026–2027 term. The election is scheduled for 2 June at UN Headquarters in New York under the Asia-Pacific Group’s rotational system.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir described the response from OIC countries as highly encouraging, saying the visit was productive and yielded strong support.

He said a detailed assessment would be conducted at an appropriate stage.

The government previously nominated former Foreign Affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain as candidate. Following the change in administration, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman nominated Dr Khalilur Rahman for the post.

On regional issues, the foreign minister expressed concern over escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, stating that conflict benefits no one.

He said Bangladesh is observing the situation cautiously while maintaining diplomatic restraint.

Reaffirming Bangladesh’s stance on Palestine, Dr Khalilur Rahman said the position remains firm and unchanged.

Leaders at the recent OIC executive meeting expressed confidence that Bangladesh would achieve political stability and development under the current leadership while reiterating support for its UNGA bid.