<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">President Mohammed Shahabuddin will host a reception for the Buddhists community members at Credential Hall of Bangabhaban here tomorrow afternoon on the occasion of the Buddha Purnima, the greatest religious festival of the Buddhists.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Head of the State along with his wife Dr Rebecca Sultana will exchange greetings with the Buddhists community commemorating the Buddha Purnima, the birthday of Gautama Buddha.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Buddha Purnima, the most sacred festival of the Buddhists, will be celebrated tomorrow with much enthusiasm and solemn devotion in the capital and elsewhere across the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur U Shwe Sing, State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan and secretaries concerned to the Bangabhaban will be present there, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">About 1650 people, including over eight hundred invited guests, are expected to join the ceremony.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leaders of Buddhists community, foreign diplomats and heads of the international agencies in Bangladesh will attend the function scheduled to continue from 4:00pm to 4:45 pm.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the exchange of greetings, Buddhist religious song with music will be played there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Buddhist religious leaders will also greet President Shahabuddin by presenting a bouquet to him on the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The President will also deliver a short greeting speech on the occasion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">History reveals that the emergence of Lord Buddha took place on this day 2,559 years ago.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prince Siddhartha Gautam was born on the full moon day at Lumbini of Nepal in 563 BC. He attained supreme enlightenment after six years rigorous meditation at Bodhgoya as Buddha and passed away on the same day at Kushinagar, India. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>