Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday formally assumed office as president of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), pledging to work closely with member states and the media while stressing that dialogue, cooperation and common ground must guide efforts to address global challenges.
Speaking to reporters in New York after taking the oath of office, Khalilur said, “The UN, multilateralism as a whole, is being tested in ways we have never seen before. But we have opportunities that we hadn’t before."
Khalilur, who first came to the UN as a delegate in 1985, said he would place a high premium on cooperation and dialogue during his presidency. “I’m not naive to think that, okay, everything can be resolved quickly, amicably,” he said, adding that this should not be a hindrance in seeking common ground.
He pledged an open relationship with journalists, promising regular engagement and two-way communication. “I’ll work very closely with you. This is my style back home. I work openly with the media. And this will be no different,” he said.
Khalilur emphasised the opening words of the UN Charter -- “We the peoples of the United Nations” -- saying the organisation should not be viewed as limited to member states. He vowed to continue bringing the voices of stateless communities such as the Rohingyas to the UN, recalling his visits to refugee camps in Bangladesh. “I’ve seen up close the distress. They’re yearning to go back home,” he said.
Khalilur said his campaign theme was “restoring trust, managing transformation”, but added a new priority: making the UN “fit for the future.”
He stressed that reforms must be meaningful, not cosmetic, and must help regain public trust in the organisation. “This is not 1945. This is the 81st session. The world has moved on; the organisation must move on,” he said.
He welcomed the UN secretary-general’s proposals on reform and pledged to continue the process under his presidency.
Khalilur assured member states he would serve all countries regardless of how they voted in his election. “Throughout my campaign, I said that if elected, I’ll be the president for every country, irrespective of whether they voted for me or not. And after the election, I said exactly the same thing. I will be a president for all countries,” he said, adding that his presidency would remain anchored in the UN Charter and member state mandates.
On Security Council reform, Khalilur said he would support the ongoing process while emphasising the need for meaningful change. On the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, he pledged to strictly follow the Charter, ensuring a seamless transition.
He also highlighted the UN’s role in AI governance and urged world leaders attending the upcoming high-level week to recommit to development, well-being and human rights.
In his oath, Khalilur pledged to discharge his duties “in all loyalty, discretion and conscience” and not to seek or accept instructions from any government or external source. “My doors will be open, and please keep your doors open,” he told reporters.
He succeeds his predecessor after what he described as a difficult but productive General Assembly session. He formally began his tenure after taking the oath at UN Headquarters in New York.
