UN chief selection should be merit-based and democratic: Adviser Humayun

A more transparent, merit-based and democratic process is needed to select the next United Nations secretary-general, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kobir said today (7 July), arguing that the current system is overly influenced by the UN Security Council and no longer reflects today's geopolitical realities.

Speaking at a virtual discussion titled "Rethinking UN Leadership in a Fragmented World: A Bangladesh-Centred Perspective," Kabir said reforms are essential to restore confidence in multilateral institutions and ensure the UN is led by the most qualified candidate.

The discussion was organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in collaboration with Southern Voice and the 1 for 8 Billion campaign.

Citing the country's recent election to the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the adviser said an open and competitive process allows merit to prevail.

"Cyprus had campaigned for nearly a decade, while we entered the race much later. Our candidate succeeded because delegates had the opportunity to assess experience, negotiation skills and crisis-management capabilities," he said.

He proposed that instead of recommending a single candidate, the Security Council should submit a shortlist of three or four qualified contenders to the General Assembly, allowing member states to make the final choice through a vote.

Humayun argued that political bargaining has too often outweighed competence in appointments to senior international positions, undermining the credibility of multilateral institutions. He said the next UN secretary-general should demonstrate integrity, independence, diplomatic skill and the ability to build consensus across geopolitical divides.

CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun said the growing fragmentation of the international order has raised questions about the UN's ability to protect the interests of smaller and developing countries.

"The challenge today is not only managing a complex international organisation but restoring confidence in multilateralism itself," she said, adding that the next UN chief must uphold the organisation's founding principles.

She described the upcoming selection as an opportunity to make the process more representative, accountable and effective. CPD, she said, has prepared a policy paper examining the issue from a Bangladesh-centred perspective.

Ben Donaldson, adviser to the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, said the nomination phase was nearing completion but warned that the influence of the Security Council's five permanent members and backroom deals over senior appointments continued to undermine transparency.

Presenting the keynote paper, Afrin Mahbub, research associate at CPD, said the selection process remains tightly controlled by the Security Council's permanent members despite modest improvements in transparency. She also noted that no woman has ever served as UN secretary-general and that women remain underrepresented across the UN system.

The distinguished panellists included Dr Amena Mohsin, formerly with the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka; Shaheen Anam, Executive Director, Manusher Jonno Foundation; Taslima Akter Lima, President, Bangladesh Garments Sramik Sanghati; Fauzia Moslem, President, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad; and Khushi Kabir, Member, CPD Board of Trustees and Coordinator, Nijera Kori.