New york: Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of 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, convened by the UN Secretary-General at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York, Dr Titumir emphasized the need for a global financial system that fosters sustainable development.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Titumir outlined five key priorities for reforming the international financial architecture, particularly for multilateral development banks. These include shifting from crisis response to anticipating vulnerabilities, giving vulnerable countries a stronger voice in international financial institutions, and providing longer-term, lower-cost, and predictable finance. He also stressed the importance of aligning international finance with national development strategies through coordinated, multi-year financing, and ensuring flexible transition support with preferential arrangements for LDC-graduating countries, including Bangladesh.
Dr Titumir also highlighted Bangladesh's SDG Village initiative as a successful model of an integrated, community-led approach to translating the SDGs into tangible improvements at the local level. The dialogue featured other notable figures, including Teresa Ribera from the European Commission, Aristide M©d©nou, 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.