Khalilur Rahman assumed the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly for its 81st session, marking the start of a new term for the world body. In his opening remarks, Rahman described the United Nations as facing a "crisis of confidence," a sentiment he said stems from growing public scepticism and perceived gaps in the organization’s effectiveness.

The president underscored that restoring trust requires concrete action rather than rhetoric. He warned that resorting to violence merely postpones underlying problems, a point he linked to the protracted Rohingya crisis. Rahman called for the international community to draw clear lessons from that humanitarian emergency, emphasizing the importance of early intervention, protection of vulnerable populations, and sustained diplomatic engagement.

Artificial intelligence featured prominently in Rahman's agenda. He urged member states to develop and adopt frameworks that ensure AI technologies are deployed responsibly, transparently, and in line with human rights standards. The president highlighted the dual potential of AI to accelerate development goals while also posing risks of bias, surveillance, and exacerbating inequalities if left unchecked.

Having served the United Nations in various capacities for 35 years, Rahman positioned his experience as a foundation for steering the Assembly toward greater accountability. He appealed to member nations to cooperate on reform measures that would strengthen the UN’s capacity to respond to crises, improve coordination among agencies, and enhance the credibility of its peace‑keeping and humanitarian operations.

The address concluded with a call for collective resolve, urging all parties to prioritize dialogue, uphold international law, and invest in mechanisms that rebuild confidence in the United Nations system. Rahman's remarks, reported by UN News — Global, set the tone for the session’s deliberations on peace, security, development, and the governance of emerging technologies.

Reporting attribution: based on reporting by UN News — Global — original source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2026/09/1168375.