Global financial architecture must create conditions for sustainable development — Dr. Titumir

New York, 18 September 2026: Dr. Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser to the Prime

Minister, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning 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,

convened by the UN Secretary-General at the UN General Assembly Hall, Dr. Titumir said, “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 outlined five priorities for reforming the international financial architecture, particularly

multilateral development banks: shifting from crisis response to anticipating vulnerabilities; giving

vulnerable countries a stronger voice in international financial institutions; providing longer-term,

lower-cost and predictable finance; aligning international finance with national development

strategies through coordinated, multi-year financing; and ensuring flexible transition support and

preferential arrangements for LDC-graduating countries, including Bangladesh.

He also highlighted Bangladesh’s SDG Village initiative as an integrated, community-led

approach to translating the SDGs into tangible improvements at the local level.

The 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. Sherwin Bryce-Pease of the South African Broadcasting Corporation

moderated the discussion.