Khalilur vows trust-building, reform-driven UNGA presidency

President-elect of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Dr Khalilur Rahman has pledged to rebuild trust, foster consensus among member states and advance reforms within the United Nations as he outlined an ambitious agenda for the forthcoming session of the world body.

Speaking after his election at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, the Bangladesh foreign minister said the 81st session would be a consequential one as the General Assembly would confront critical issues including UN reform, preparations for the next generation of the global development agenda and the transition in the leadership of the United Nations through the selection of the next secretary-general.

"Today, the Member States of the United Nations elected me as the President of the 81st Session of the Assembly. I have accepted the responsibilities with humility and respect," he said in his first press statement following the election, according to the foreign ministry here. 


Dr Khalilur said the Assembly would undertake its work at a time when the world is grappling with multiple crises, including climate change, geopolitical tensions, energy insecurity and widening development divides.

To address these challenges, he announced six priority areas that will guide his presidency.

The priorities include peace, security and justice; sustainable development and acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); climate resilience and environmental sustainability; human rights, humanitarian action, refugees and migrants; digital governance, artificial intelligence, science and technology; and renewed multilateralism, UN80 reforms and inclusive global governance.

The president-elect stressed the need for strengthening multilateral cooperation and restoring confidence among member states at a time of increasing global uncertainty.

"Following my election, I told the General Assembly that I will dedicate myself to rebuilding trust, nurturing consensus, and opening space for good faith negotiations that will lead to outcomes for all that are owned by all," he said.

Emphasising his commitment to impartiality and inclusiveness, Dr Khalilur said he would uphold the UN Charter and conduct the work of the presidency in full accordance with the code of conduct governing the office.

"I will be the President of all Member States. I will engage all Member States in the course of my work," he said, adding that he would not allow his personal views to interfere with his responsibilities as president of the Assembly.

The Bangladesh foreign minister also underscored the importance of finding common ground among nations despite their differences. "I will seek common ground without ignoring differences," he said.

Dr Khalilur announced that his office would reflect geographical, gender and linguistic balance and revealed plans to establish a dedicated group within the Office of the President to address the needs of small delegations at the United Nations.

He also highlighted the need for adequate resources for the Office of the President and called on member states to contribute to the PGA Trust Fund.

"I called upon all Member States to contribute to the PGA Trust Fund to help carry out the work of the Office of the President," he said, adding that he would work to ensure adequate long-term funding for a robust internship programme.

The president-elect said he viewed the work of the General Assembly presidency as a continuum rather than a one-off undertaking and pledged to carry forward important initiatives launched by the incumbent president.

Recognising the role of the media in strengthening public confidence in the United Nations, Dr Khalilur said the UN press corps would be a key partner in communicating the organisation's achievements and impact.

"A principal way to advance public trust in our Organization is to tell our success stories to the peoples of the United Nations. The UN press corps is the best vehicle to accomplish this task," he said.

He pledged to establish an effective communications team that would maintain regular engagement with journalists throughout his tenure.

Dr Khalilur was elected President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly after securing 99 votes against 91 received by Cyprus in a secret ballot held among 190 voting member states.

He will assume office in September, becoming the first Bangladeshi to preside over the UN General Assembly through a contested election, reports BSS.