Shibbir Ahmed, New York – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today attended the high level general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters here. The Prime Minister, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, joined the debate at the North Delegates’ Lounge of the UN Headquarters at 9:00am (New York time), said PM’s Assistant Press Secretary K M Nazmul Haque.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed it, chaired by the president of UNGA 81st session and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. Upon his arrival at the venue, the Prime Minister was accorded a formal welcome. He then joined other world leaders at the high-level discussions of the prestigious global forum. The 81st UNGA session is focusing on a range of major global issues, including climate change, resolution of global conflicts, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international economic cooperation.

On the sidelines of the session, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings with heads of state and government and representatives of various international organisations.

He will also deliver Bangladesh’s statement at the General Debate of the General Assembly, where he is expected to highlight global peacekeeping, climate justice and Bangladesh’s recent socio-economic development.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Humaiun Kobir, Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin, senior government officials and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations were also present during the session. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly formally commenced on September 8, while its General Debate began today.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Ministries of Finance and Planning, has called for comprehensive reform of the global financial architecture to ensure affordable, predictable and vulnerability-sensitive financing for developing countries.

Speaking at the Leaders’ Dialogue on “Leading SDG Action” during the 2026 SDG Moment at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, Dr. Titumir said the global financial system must move beyond simply financing development and instead create the conditions necessary to sustain it.

“Our broader vision should be collective and forward-looking: a global financial architecture that does not merely finance development, but creates the conditions in which development can be sustained,” he said. Dr. Titumir outlined five priorities for reforming the international financial architecture, particularly the role of multilateral development banks.

He called for a shift from responding to crises after they emerge toward anticipating vulnerabilities; greater representation and voice for vulnerable countries in international financial institutions; longer-term, lower-cost and predictable financing; closer alignment of international financing with national development strategies through coordinated, multi-year financing; and flexible transition support and preferential arrangements for countries graduating from the least developed country (LDC) category, including Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi adviser also highlighted the country’s SDG Village initiative, describing it as an integrated, community-led approach to translating the Sustainable Development Goals into tangible improvements at the local level.

The 2026 SDG Moment, held on September 18 at UN Headquarters, brought together representatives of UN member states, international organizations and civil society to discuss accelerating action toward the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of the 2030 deadline.

The Leaders’ Dialogue also featured Teresa Ribera of the European Commission, Aristide Médénou, Minister of Economy and Finance of Benin, and Beatriz Carles de Arango, Minister for Social Development of Panama. The discussion was moderated by Sherwin Bryce-Pease of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.