Dhaka, Oct. 8 -- Bangladesh has made history by being elected president of the 43rd General Conference of UNESCO, marking a significant milestone in the country's 53-year membership with the organization.

During the vote held on Tuesday at the 222nd session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, Bangladesh's candidate, Ambassador Khondker M Talha, won the presidency with a 30-27 victory over Japan.

Initially, four countries-Bangladesh, Japan, India, and the Republic of Korea-vied for the position. However, India and the Republic of Korea withdrew their candidacies in September, leaving Bangladesh and Japan in the final contest.

This election represents the first time Bangladesh has been chosen for this top position within UNESCO.

Amb...