Dhaka, Oct. 8 -- Bangladesh has, for the first time, been elected as president of the UNESCO General Conference, marking a historic milestone 53 years into its membership.

On Tuesday, at the 222nd session of UNESCO's Executive Board in Paris, Bangladesh's candidate Ambassador Khondker M Talha defeated Japan's nominee by 30 votes to 27, according to a media statement from the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO).

The statement says initially four countries -- Bangladesh, Japan, India, South Korea -- were in the race. In September, India and South Korea withdrew their candidatures.

Ambassador Talha currently serves as Bangladesh's permanent representative to UNESCO and as ambassador to France, Monaco and Cote d'Ivoire.

He is set to succeed Roma...