Khalilur leaves Dhaka to assume UNGA presidency

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman left Dhaka on Sunday night for New York to assume the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), placing Bangladesh at the helm of the world body's principal deliberative organ.

He departed shortly after 8:20pm on an official visit to New York in connection with his UNGA presidency, with a transit in Dubai, according to a foreign ministry official.

Khalilur is scheduled to remain on the visit from 31 August to 21 October.

The 81st session of the General Assembly will formally open on 8 September, with world leaders set to gather at the UN Headquarters in New York later in the month for the annual high-level General Debate.

His presidency comes at a crucial juncture for the United Nations amid deepening geopolitical divisions and as the world body moves towards the process of selecting its next secretary-general.

Khalilur has identified rebuilding trust, fostering consensus and creating space for constructive negotiations among member states as key priorities of his presidency.

The foreign minister has pledged to act as a bridge-builder among member states and engage all sides to find common ground amid widening international divisions.

He has also pledged to uphold the UN Charter and ensure geographical and gender balance within the Office of the President of the General Assembly, while remaining attentive to the needs of smaller delegations.

Bangladesh is expected to use the high-profile presidency to draw greater international attention to issues of national and regional importance, particularly the protracted Rohingya crisis.