Bangladesh Makes History as President of Unesco’s 43rd General Conference
In a significant milestone during its 53-year tenure with Unesco, Bangladesh has secured the presidency of the 43rd General Conference. Ambassador Khondker M Talha, representing Bangladesh, clinched the presidency with a 30–27 vote victory over Japan at the 222nd session of the Unesco Executive Board held in Paris. Initially, four countries vied for the position, but India and South Korea withdrew in September, leaving Bangladesh and Japan in the race. This marks the first time Bangladesh has attained the top leadership role within Unesco.
Ambassador Talha, who serves as Bangladesh’s permanent delegate to Unesco and ambassador to France, Monaco, and Côte d’Ivoire, is set to succeed Ambassador Simona Mirela Miculescu of Romania at the upcoming General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, scheduled for later this month.
The achievement was lauded by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus as a “landmark achievement,” who extended gratitude to the advisers and Bangladesh’s permanent mission for spearheading the campaign. Education Adviser Dr CR Abrar highlighted that the election would shed light on Bangladesh’s significant contributions in arts, culture, and education. Similarly, Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki emphasized that it provided a robust platform to showcase the vibrancy of Bangladesh’s artistic, cultural, and heritage landscape.
Having assumed the role of Bangladesh’s Permanent Delegate to Unesco in 2021, Ambassador Talha expressed appreciation to the Executive Board members, deeming the victory a historic moment for the country. He pledged to uphold Unesco’s mandate, particularly crucial during the current period of global multilateralism.
This achievement not only signifies Bangladesh’s growing influence within Unesco but also underscores the country’s commitment to promoting arts, culture, and education on the global stage.