Foreign Minister Pledges Full-Time UN General Assembly Presidency If Elected
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Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman pledged to serve as a “full-time president for all” if elected to lead the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, outlining a comprehensive six-point agenda during his campaign launch at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday afternoon.
Presenting his candidacy, Khalilur Rahman articulated a broad vision aimed at restoring global trust in the United Nations. He emphasized key priorities including the revitalization of peacekeeping operations, bridging the gaps in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and urgently addressing the critical threat of climate change.
Drawing on his extensive diplomatic background, Rahman also advocated for the equitable and judicious governance of emerging technologies and stressed the imperative of protecting the human rights of displaced populations. His proposals underscored a strong commitment to multilateralism and institutional reform, aiming to foster a more inclusive and effective global body for all member states.
The Foreign Minister highlighted Bangladesh’s significant contribution to UN peacekeeping missions, with over 200,000 peacekeepers serving worldwide. He called for an integrated approach to peacekeeping and peacebuilding, prioritizing conflict prevention, political solutions, the protection of civilians, and enhanced participation of women in these efforts.
Addressing sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, Khalilur Rahman noted the considerable gap between commitments and implementation. He pledged to work towards preventing a “lost decade of development” due to energy insecurity, accelerate SDG implementation, tackle financing deficits, and ensure the meaningful participation of youth, women, and girls. His framework specifically focused on the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and Middle-Income Countries (MICs).
On climate change, Rahman committed to implementing existing climate pledges, supporting the Loss and Damage Fund, and conserving marine ecosystems, including biodiversity, through science-based ocean initiatives. Upholding human rights, he proposed strengthening coordination among various institutional mechanisms and safeguarding the scope of humanitarian assistance. He drew attention to the plight of refugees and displaced persons, citing Bangladesh’s experience in sheltering 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar.
Regarding emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data, Khalilur Rahman advocated for prudent and equitable governance. His objective is to ensure that the benefits of these technologies are accessible to all while mitigating risks of bias and misuse. He also envisioned the General Assembly as a member-state driven force for reform, aiming to enhance coordination among the General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, and the Peacebuilding Commission.
Khalilur Rahman concluded his presentation by promising to serve as an impartial and dedicated leader if elected, committing to a full-time presidency. He vowed to uphold the UN Charter, pay special attention to smaller delegations, and build consensus amidst international disagreements.
The campaign event in New York included an informal interactive dialogue where candidates presented written statements outlining their work plans and subsequently responded to questions from member states.
In accordance with the regional rotation system, the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly is allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group. Bangladesh, represented by Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, and Cyprus, represented by its Special Envoy for Multilateral Affairs, Andreas Kakouris, are the two contenders. The official election is scheduled for June 2 at 10:00 AM in the General Assembly Hall at the UN headquarters in New York.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly will officially commence on September 8, with the high-level general debate featuring statements from heads of state and government beginning on September 22.
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