<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is being celebrated in the country on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Buddha Purnima marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. On this day in 563 BC, Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Kapilabastu at the foothill of the Himalayas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He attained supreme enlightenment at the age of 35 and finally departed into “nirvana” at the age of 80 in 483 BC.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the Buddhist community on the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Shahabuddin said, “Buddhist civilisation and its culture have been deeply intertwined with the people of Bengal since ancient times. Paharpur and Mainamati Shalban Bihar are its shining examples.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said Gautam Buddha always sought welfare for mankind and he tried his best to make the whole world peaceful and prosperous.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We hope that the Buddhist community will continue their efforts for the development of the country by practicing this tradition and upholding the great ideals of the Buddha," President Shahabuddin said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Prime Minister urged all to work to further strengthen the practice and bond of harmony in Bangladesh in future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It is necessary to follow the teachings of Buddha in today's world to suppress the brute forces driven by violence, prevent the degradation of values and build a peaceful society,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in her message.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I hope that by upholding and nurturing the ideals of Gautam Buddha, everyone will play a role in building Bangladesh as a peaceful country,” she said. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>