State Minister for Foreign Affairs-1 Humayun Kabir has been assigned expanded responsibilities, including assisting Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman in all matters during the minister’s absence. The Foreign Ministry announced the arrangement in a circular issued on Sunday. Kabir will take on the additional role while Khalilur Rahman spends extended periods abroad as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The circular said Kabir’s added duties are beyond the specific responsibilities assigned to the two state ministers under the Rules of Business, 1996. Khalilur Rahman became foreign minister after the BNP formed the government in February this year. On June 2, he was elected president of the 81st UN General Assembly session by secret ballot at UN headquarters, defeating Cyprus candidate Andreas S. Kakouris by 99 votes to 91.

Khalilur Rahman will serve in the UN role for one year from September 8 and is expected to stay for lengthy periods in New York and other countries. Humayun Kabir was appointed a technocrat state minister for foreign affairs in the August 21 cabinet reshuffle, while Shama Obaid Islam retained her post. A later circular designated Kabir as State Minister-1 and Islam as State Minister-2.