Bangladesh, May 22 -- Questions continue to surround what Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman's role would look like if he is elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Those who follow foreign affairs are informally discussing whether Dr Khalilur would step down from his current responsibilities as Bangladesh's Foreign Minister to serve full-time at the UN, or attempt to carry out both roles simultaneously. No official clarification has yet been provided on the matter.

There have been instances in the past where foreign ministers simultaneously served as President of the United Nations General Assembly while retaining their ministerial portfolios. For example, Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives conc...