Khalilur Rahman begins UN General Assembly presidency

Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh has officially begun his tenure as the President of the United Nations General Assembly. In his opening remarks, Rahman emphasized a central theme of “restoring trust and managing transformation,” arguing that the organization must evolve to remain relevant. He stated that the UN must be made “fit for the future” by integrating voices from civil society, academia, business leaders, and the media, rather than functioning solely as a union of states.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Rahman’s presidency, noting that the multilateral system is currently facing significant strain due to geopolitical divisions, nuclear risks, climate change, and inequality. Guterres highlighted that international law and human rights are frequently ignored with impunity, contributing to a deficit of trust in global cooperation.

As part of the upcoming term, the UN will also focus on the process of selecting the next Secretary-General, whose term is set to begin in January 2027.