President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has underscored the need to form a national committee comprising representatives of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other ethnic minority communities to ensure their rights and dignity.

“Forming a national committee with representatives of the relevant communities will make it easier to present their various problems and demands to the government and ensure their rights and dignity,” he said.

The President made the remarks when a nine-member delegation of the Bangladesh Buddhist Federation and Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this afternoon, President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam said.

“Greater emphasis must be placed on the education and human resource development of boys and girls from the country's Buddhist community so that they do not fall behind,” Mirza Fakhrul said, calling on educated and experienced members of the community to play a more active role in this regard.

During the meeting, the delegation apprised the President of various issues and problems facing the Buddhist community and briefed him on its traditional religious and social activities.

Assuring the delegation that steps would be taken to address the problems, the President said, “Efforts must continue to ensure the lawful rights and dignity of all communities and eliminate discrimination.”

The delegation also invited the President to attend the Kathin-Chivar-Dana ceremony scheduled to be held at Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery in Kamalapur in November.

The President assured the delegation that he would attend the ceremony.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Minority Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar was present at the meeting.

President of the federation Abbot Sri Saddharmmasasanadhwaj Buddhapriya Mahathero led the delegation.

BNP National Executive Committee member Sushil Chandra Barua, Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Trustee Partha Pratim Barua, Bangladesh Buddhist Federation Vice-President and former Joint Secretary Ranjit Kumar Barua, Nationalist Buddhist Forum President Dr. Dilip Kumar Barua, Deputy Chief Abbot of Basabo Dharmarajika Mahavihara Sumittananda Bhikkhu Anupam Barua, and Riton Kanti Barua, along with other Buddhist community leaders, were present at the meeting.

The President's Military Secretary, Secretary and Press Secretary were also present at the meeting.