Citing precedence, Khalilur says UN post and foreign ministry can be handled together

The foreign minister recalls a four-decade-old example of dual responsibilities at the UN to argue the arrangement is both precedented and manageable

Khalilur Rahman has said he sees no difficulty in simultaneously serving as foreign minister and president of the United Nations General Assembly, dismissing concerns over potential conflict or workload.

Responding to questions at the foreign ministry on Thursday, Khalilur interjected before the question was completed.

“Will I quit my job? Take leave? Let’s not make a fuss -- there is precedent.”

He pointed to a historical example to justify the dual responsibility.

“Forty years ago, Mr Humayun Rasheed Choudhury, our former foreign minister, was elected president of the UN General Assembly,” he said.

“I was his private secretary and we worked together. He was able to perform both roles full-time. That was the pre-internet era; today, you can do both jobs seamlessly. It is normal to do so.”

The UN General Assembly presidency is a one-year post that involves presiding over sessions of all member states, setting agendas and facilitating diplomatic negotiations.

Khalilur won the presidency in a closely contested vote on Tuesday, defeating Cyprus’s candidate after a tight race.

While some presidents in the past have taken leave from national posts to focus on the UN role, others have continued to hold domestic offices alongside it, making the arrangement politically sensitive but not unprecedented.

Khalilur had earlier said he would serve as a full-time president if elected.

Speaking during an informal exchange at UN headquarters on May 13 during his campaign, he said: “If elected, I will be everyone’s president and a full-time president. I will uphold the UN Charter, engage all member states, and pay special attention to smaller delegations.”

“I will preside strictly in accordance with the code of conduct. I will not let my personal views interfere with the work of the General Assembly, and I will seek unity rather than ignore differences.”

He had also suggested he might take leave from his ministerial duties rather than resign, saying: “Will I resign? No. The prime minister has clearly told me I will be given one year to perform full-time duties. Resignation is not the only option. I may also take leave.”

Following his election victory, Khalilur returned to his office in New York on Thursday, where he was received by senior officials including State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir. He later celebrated the win with ministry officials.

Calling the outcome a national achievement, Khalilur said: “This victory is Bangladesh’s victory. It is a victory of our democratic transition. It is the prime minister’s victory.”

He credited political backing for the success, adding: “If she had not taken this decision and supported us firmly and consistently, we could not have covered a 10-year journey in 10 weeks.”

The UN General Assembly presidency this term was allocated to the Asia-Pacific group under a rotational system.

Earlier, under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, former foreign advisor Touhid Hossain had been nominated for the post.

Bangladesh later paused its candidacy due to a competing Palestinian bid but did not withdraw it.

The nomination was revived after the Palestinian candidate stepped down, and following a change in government, Khalilur was fielded as Bangladesh’s candidate.

Khalilur, who topped the first regular BCS examination in 1977 before joining the foreign service, has spent much of his career working with different UN agencies.

Thanking officials involved in the campaign, he said: “All officials of the foreign ministry and our missions abroad worked tirelessly. The deputy minister, the foreign affairs advisor, and our entire team contributed immensely. We dedicate this victory to Bangladesh’s future.”