Bangladesh’s diplomatic outreach appears to be paying off as international support continues to grow for Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s candidacy for the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During the sidelines of an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on Friday, senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Palestine and The Gambia expressed their full backing for Dhaka’s bid.
According to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the leaders conveyed their support during a series of bilateral discussions held outside the OIC meeting. They emphasized Bangladesh’s active and principled role in global forums—particularly on issues affecting the Muslim world, including Palestine—as a key reason behind their endorsement.
In the official statement, the ministry said the delegations also congratulated Prime Minister Tareq Rahman and expressed optimism that Bangladesh’s political landscape would remain stable under the new government.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally interested in visiting Bangladesh to extend his congratulations to the new leadership.
Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Palestine also praised Bangladesh’s strong pro-Palestine position, describing it as an example of moral leadership on the global stage.
With the UNGA presidential election scheduled for June, diplomatic observers say Bangladesh’s recent wave of international support marks a significant advancement in its campaign.