Bangladesh has officially withdrawn its candidacy for the presidency of 81st session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), stepping aside in support of Palestine, which is also contesting for the position.

Sources confirmed that Bangladesh had expressed interest in running for the UNGA presidency five years ago.

However, following Palestine’s decision to participate in the upcoming election, Dhaka chose to defer its candidacy as a gesture of solidarity.

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus highlighted the longstanding ties between the two nations. “Bangladesh shares a deep and historic bond with Palestine. We recognised the Palestinian state decades ago and have consistently supported its legitimate claims on the international stage,” he said.

Prof Yunus added, “Given this enduring friendship, there is no reason to compete with a brotherly nation for this prestigious UN position. We believe Palestine’s candidacy will strengthen global support for them at a critical time and help advance their objectives internationally.”

He emphasized that Bangladesh remains committed to active participation in the United Nations and continues to aspire to the UNGA presidency in the future.