As world leaders gather in New York for the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, much of the attention will also be on the diplomat presiding over the proceedings: Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman.
Rahman, a veteran Bangladeshi diplomat and the country’s foreign minister, was elected president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on June 2, 2026. He defeated Cyprus’ Andreas Kakouris in a secret-ballot vote, securing 99 of the 190 votes cast. His one-year term began with the opening of the 81st session on September 8.
The high-level General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 26 and September 28 at UN headquarters in New York. Rahman will preside over the proceedings under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
Who is Khalilur Rahman?
Rahman is a career diplomat who joined Bangladesh’s foreign service in 1979.
According to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he served at the ministry and at Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York between 1983 and 1991. During that period, he represented Bangladesh in the General Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee and served as a spokesperson for the least developed countries.
His academic background spans economics and international affairs. He studied at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, earning a master’s degree in law and diplomacy and a PhD in economics, according to his official biography.
His connection with the United Nations
Rahman’s relationship with the UN extends well beyond his country’s diplomatic mission.
In 1991, he joined the UN Secretariat as a special adviser at the UN Conference on Trade and Development, or UNCTAD, in Geneva.
He subsequently spent about 25 years in senior UN positions in Geneva and New York, working on international trade, finance and development and contributing to major UN publications. The Office of the President of the General Assembly describes him as having more than 30 years of experience with the United Nations.
His long association with the organization gives him experience from both sides of the UN system: as a representative of a member state and later as an official within the UN Secretariat.
How did he become Bangladesh’s foreign minister?
Khalilur Rahman returned to Bangladesh’s government in senior roles before taking charge of the foreign ministry.
He served as High Representative for Rohingya Affairs and later as National Security Adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government.
He was sworn in as foreign minister on February 17, 2026.
That means Rahman took on the UNGA presidency while simultaneously serving as Bangladesh’s foreign minister, giving the 81st session a leader with extensive experience in diplomacy, development and UN affairs.
What is his agenda as UNGA president?
Rahman’s program for the 81st session is organized around six interlocking pillars.
The first, “Silence the Guns, Amplify the Voices,” focuses on peace, security and justice, with an emphasis on political solutions, conflict prevention and protection of civilians.
The second, “No One Left Behind, No Country Left Out,” centers on sustainable development, accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing the concerns of countries in special situations.
His third pillar, “Our Planet, Our Pact,” places climate resilience and environmental sustainability at the center of the session.
The fourth, “Rights and Protection: Freedom from Fear and Want,” addresses human rights, humanitarian action, refugees and migrants.
The fifth, “Innovation with Inclusion,” focuses on digital governance, artificial intelligence, science and technology, while the sixth, “We the Peoples, Reimagined,” is aimed at renewing multilateralism and advancing UN reform.
Why “restoring trust” is central to his presidency
Rahman’s theme reflects his view that the UN’s ability to tackle global problems depends partly on confidence in multilateral institutions.
The UN’s 81st session opened against a backdrop of armed conflicts, widening inequalities, climate emergencies and disagreements among major powers.
Rahman has said he wants to use consultation and inclusive decision-making to build broader ownership of General Assembly outcomes. His official program emphasizes geographical, gender and linguistic balance in the way the presidency conducts its work.
He also stated after his election that he would be “the President of all of you” and would engage all member states in his work.
AI and technology are part of his UN agenda
Artificial intelligence has found a prominent place in Rahman’s six-pillar program.
Under “Innovation with Inclusion,” his agenda calls for evidence-based and inclusive approaches to AI governance, while also addressing risks including inequality, bias, surveillance and misuse.
The framework builds on existing UN initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact and the work of the International Scientific Panel on AI.
This places AI alongside more traditional diplomatic issues such as peace, development and climate rather than treating it solely as a technology-sector concern.
Sustainable development is another major focus
Rahman’s second pillar is built around the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN president’s office says the SDGs remain off track and that the 81st session will be shaped in part by preparations for the 2027 SDG Summit and the Global Sustainable Development Report 2027.
His stated goal is to make the General Assembly a forum for course correction rather than simply a place where governments acknowledge missed targets.
What does the UNGA president actually do?
The president of the General Assembly does not function like the head of a government or the UN’s secretary-general.
The presidency is primarily procedural and diplomatic. The president chairs General Assembly meetings, helps manage debates and consultations, and works to facilitate agreement among member states.
The Office of the President lists dozens of commitments across Rahman’s six pillars and says he will preside over high-level meetings and thematic debates throughout the session.
The General Assembly itself has 193 member states, with each state holding one vote.
That gives the office a prominent convening role, particularly during the annual high-level week, even though major decisions on international peace and security can involve the separate UN Security Council.
A year of major diplomatic transitions
Rahman’s presidency coincides with a significant period of change inside the UN.
Secretary-General António Guterres’ second term ends on December 31, 2026, and the organization is preparing for his successor to take office on January 1, 2027.
The 81st session will therefore unfold alongside both major global crises and an important leadership transition within the UN system.
For Khalilur Rahman, the coming year will involve balancing the procedural responsibilities of the General Assembly presidency with an agenda centered on peace, development, climate, rights, technology and institutional reform.
