BD elected President of UNESCO Gen Conference

Staff Reporter :

Bangladesh has made history by being elected president of the 43rd General Conference of UNESCO, marking a significant milestone in the country’s 53-year membership with the organization.

During the vote held on Tuesday at the 222nd session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Bangladesh’s candidate, Ambassador Khondker M Talha, won the presidency with a 30-27 victory over Japan.

Initially, four countries-Bangladesh, Japan, India, and the Republic of Korea-vied for the position. However, India and the Republic of Korea withdrew their candidacies in September, leaving Bangladesh and Japan in the final contest.

This election represents the first time Bangladesh has been chosen for this top position within UNESCO.

Ambassador Khondker M Talha, who serves as Bangladesh’s permanent delegate to UNESCO as well as ambassador to France, Monaco, and Côte d’Ivoire, will assume the presidency. He will succeed Ambassador Simona Mirela Miculescu of Romania at the upcoming General Conference, scheduled to be held later this month in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Education Adviser CR Abrar, and Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki expressed their gratitude to the Executive Board for this prestigious recognition.

Yunus described the election as “a landmark achievement” and commended the education and cultural advisers, along with the permanent mission, for their leadership in driving Bangladesh’s successful campaign. “This is a proud moment for Bangladesh,” he said.

Education Adviser CR Abrar remarked, “This election to UNESCO’s highest office will highlight Bangladesh’s contributions to arts, culture, and education globally. It is a rare honor.”

Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki added, “Bangladesh’s active participation in recent UNESCO sessions has already received recognition. This new role provides a strong platform to showcase the vibrancy of our artistic, cultural, and heritage landscape on the world stage.”

Ambassador Talha, appointed Bangladesh’s permanent delegate to UNESCO in 2021, expressed heartfelt thanks to the Executive Board members for their confidence in Bangladesh’s leadership. “This is a historic achievement for our country,” he said, pledging to work diligently to uphold UNESCO’s mandate during this crucial time for global multilateralism.