Shibbir Ahmed, UN, New York: The United Nations General Assembly opened its 81st session on Tuesday at United Nations Headquarters in New York, with Bangladesh’s veteran diplomat Khalilur Rahman taking over as president and calling for renewed global trust in the international organization amid wars, humanitarian crises, climate change and deepening geopolitical divisions.
Rahman formally assumed the presidency after receiving the traditional Icelandic wooden gavel from outgoing General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock. In his opening remarks, he said the United Nations must adapt to the realities of a rapidly changing world and become more responsive to the needs and expectations of people across the globe.
“We must make the United Nations fit for the future,” Rahman said, stressing the importance of listening to civil society and giving greater space to voices outside governments and traditional diplomatic institutions.
“We have a situation where trust is in deficit. This is not 1945. This is the 81st session. The world has moved on. The Organization must move on, and I’ll help that process,” he said.
Rahman has placed restoring trust and managing global transformation at the center of his presidency. His agenda includes strengthening international peace and security, accelerating progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, addressing climate change, protecting human rights, supporting refugees and migrants, promoting responsible technological development and advancing reform of the United Nations and the broader multilateral system.
The new session begins at a time of heightened international tensions, with conflicts in several regions, growing humanitarian emergencies, geopolitical rivalries, persistent poverty and inequality, and increasing concerns over climate-related disasters. The risk of nuclear escalation has also added to concerns about international peace and security.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the opening of the session, said rebuilding confidence in the multilateral system had become one of the defining challenges of the current era.
“Rebuilding trust in the multilateral system is the defining challenge of our time,” Guterres said, arguing that international cooperation remains essential at a moment when the world is confronting crises that cannot be effectively addressed by individual countries acting alone.
Guterres said institutions across the multilateral system, including the Security Council and international financial institutions, are under growing pressure to respond to the realities of the present day. He warned that international law and human rights are too often violated with impunity, while geopolitical mistrust and suspicion continue to prevent the international community from reaching effective solutions.
Despite those difficulties, Guterres said he remained hopeful about the ability of the General Assembly to contribute to a better future. Through diplomacy, dialogue and cooperation, he said, countries can work to rebuild trust and goodwill and help ensure that future generations inherit a more peaceful and sustainable world.
The opening of the 81st session also marked the conclusion of Baerbock’s term as president of the General Assembly. Addressing member states at the final meeting of the 80th session, she defended the continuing importance of the United Nations despite criticism of its shortcomings.
Baerbock said she was more convinced than ever of the importance and necessity of the organization. She pointed to the work of United Nations agencies and peacekeeping missions around the world as evidence of the practical impact of the international body.
She cited the role of the United Nations Children’s Fund in helping millions of children and the contribution of peacekeepers to protecting civilians in conflict-affected areas. Baerbock also warned that the positive work of the United Nations often receives less public attention than negative developments, particularly in an environment where divisive and hateful content can spread rapidly.
Climate change and sustainable development are expected to remain major issues during the new session. Rahman has called for stronger international efforts to build climate resilience and protect the environment, while also accelerating progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The new president has emphasized the need to ensure that development reaches vulnerable populations and that no country is excluded from international efforts to address poverty, inequality, education, health, food security and other development challenges.
Human rights and humanitarian action are also central to the new presidency. Continuing conflicts and instability have displaced millions of people, increasing pressure on the international community to protect refugees and migrants and provide assistance to populations affected by war and persecution.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies is another issue expected to receive greater attention. Rahman has called for technological innovation that is inclusive and responsibly governed, with appropriate safeguards to protect people and future generations.
United Nations reform is also expected to feature prominently during the 81st session. The international political and economic landscape has changed substantially since the organization was established in 1945, prompting continued debate over whether its institutions adequately reflect the realities of the contemporary world.
Questions surrounding representation, inclusiveness and the effectiveness of international decision-making have become increasingly important, particularly for developing countries seeking a greater voice in global affairs.
Another major diplomatic issue during the coming year will be the selection of the next United Nations secretary-general. Guterres is scheduled to complete his term, with his successor expected to take office in January 2027.
Rahman brings extensive diplomatic experience to the presidency of the General Assembly. He previously served as foreign minister of Bangladesh and held senior positions including national security adviser and high representative for the Rohingya issue in Bangladesh’s interim government. He has also held senior positions within the United Nations system and was a founding member of East West University in Dhaka.
His assumption of the presidency gives Bangladesh a prominent role in one of the international community’s most representative forums at a particularly challenging moment for multilateral diplomacy.
As the 81st session begins, the central challenge for the General Assembly will be whether countries can overcome deep political divisions and rebuild confidence in international cooperation. For Rahman, the task is rooted in a simple premise: the world has changed significantly since 1945, and the United Nations must evolve with it.
