Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has sought international support for Bangladesh’s bid for the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during a series of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) in London.
Leading the Bangladesh delegation at the gathering hosted at Lancaster House, Khalilur Rahman held talks with several foreign ministers and senior diplomats from Commonwealth countries to strengthen diplomatic cooperation and mobilise backing for Bangladesh’s candidature.
During a bilateral meeting with Yvette Cooper, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, both sides discussed key bilateral issues and explored ways to expand cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
Khalilur Rahman also held formal meetings with Robert Oliphant, parliamentary secretary of Canada; Alvin Botes, deputy minister for international relations and cooperation of South Africa; E. P. Chet Greene, minister for foreign affairs, trade and Barbuda affairs of Antigua and Barbuda; and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s minister for foreign affairs.
In addition to these meetings, the foreign minister conducted several informal discussions with other heads of delegation attending the Commonwealth forum.
Diplomatic sources said Khalilur Rahman used these engagements to highlight Bangladesh’s candidature for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, seeking diplomatic support from partner countries.
According to officials, several counterparts expressed assurances of support for Bangladesh’s campaign.
Bangladesh has nominated Khalilur Rahman as its candidate for the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly, which will serve the 2026–2027 term.
Following the withdrawal of Palestine’s candidature, Bangladesh is expected to compete with Cyprus for the position.
The election for the UNGA presidency is scheduled to take place on 2 June at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Bangladesh previously held the presidency of the UN General Assembly in 1986–1987, when then foreign minister Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury served as president of the 41st UNGA session.
During the London visit, Khalilur Rahman is also scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Day celebration at Westminster Abbey and a diplomatic reception at St James’s Palace.
The 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives from 56 member states to discuss global challenges and prepare the agenda for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting later this year.
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