FM, UNGA roles can be served at once
Says Khalilur
FE REPORT | Friday, 5 June 2026
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman cites precedent of continuing as Bangladesh foreign minister while serving as president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday after his return from New York following his election as president of the 81st UNGA session, Mr Rahman said there was no need for him to take leave from his ministerial responsibilities.
"There is no reason to be overly concerned. There is a precedent," he notes and draws instance from the homeland itself to underpin his position.
"Forty years ago, our former foreign minister, Humayun Rashid Choudhury, was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly. I served as his personal secretary and worked closely with him. He was able to perform both responsibilities on a full-time basis."
Rahman notes that Choudhury had managed both roles in the pre-internet era, while modern communications technology makes it even easier to carry out multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
"At that time there was no internet. Today, continuous communication allows you to perform both jobs together. It is quite normal now," he told the journalists.
Responding to questions he says, "Many have pointed out that the current President of the General Assembly was Germany's foreign minister. But she left that position before taking office. The reality is that she was a leader of the Green Party, and after her party lost the election, he could no longer remain foreign minister."
Rahman dedicates his election victory to Bangladesh's future and credited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for providing decisive support for the campaign.
"This victory belongs to Bangladesh. This victory belongs to the Prime Minister," he says. "I want to thank him. Had he not taken this decision and supported us firmly, unwaveringly and without hesitation, we could not have completed in ten weeks a journey that normally takes ten years. We dedicate this victory to the future of Bangladesh."
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