President Mohammed Shahabuddin will host a reception for Buddhist community leaders at the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban on Thursday on the occasion of the holy Buddha Purnima, which commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
The head of the state along with his wife, Dr Rebecca Sultana, will exchange greetings with Buddhist leaders commemorating the largest religious festival in Bangladesh held by the Buddhist community.
Buddhists will celebrate the day in Dhaka and elsewhere across the country with due solemnity and enthusiasm.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur U Shwe Sing, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan and secretaries to Bangabhaban will be present there, said a Bangabhaban source.
Over 1,650 people, including more than 800 invited guests, are expected to join the event.
Buddhist religious leaders will also greet the president by presenting a bouquet to him on the occasion.
President Shahabuddin will address Buddhists across the country through the media at noon that day.
