Bangladesh is elected member of ECOSOC securing the highest number of votes

New York, 26 October (VoBD) - Bangladesh has been elected today as a member of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 3-year term beginning from 1 January 2010.  In the election to elect 4 countries from Asia region, a total of 188 countries cast their votes and Bangladesh got elected securing 185 votes which is the highest number of votes secured among the countries elected. The election was held in the General Assembly hall at the 25th plenary meeting of the 64th UNGA when the delegates from the Member States voted to elect 18 members of the 54-member ECOSOC from different geographical regions.

The other countires elected to the ECOSOC today are: From Africa: Ghana, Comoros, Zambia, Rwanda and Egypt. From Eastern Europe: Ukraine and Slovakia. From GRULAC (Group of Latin American and Carrebian Countries): Chile, Bahamas and Argentina. From WEOG (Group of Western Europian Countries and Others): Italy, Belgium, Canada and USA.

The securing of the highest number of votes by Bangladesh is yet another sign of confidence of the international community on the leadership of Bangladesh to pursue issues of common interest. Bangladesh ’s election to the ECOSOC will also enable her to shape up the way the UN body leads the world to overcome the challenges posed by the current global financial and economic crisis. It may be mentioned that Bangladesh earlier served the ECOSOC in 1976-78, 1981-83, 1985-87, 1992-94, 1996-98 and 2004-06.