President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has proposed forming a national committee comprising representatives of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and ethnic minority communities to help protect their rights and dignity.
He made the proposal on Wednesday during a courtesy meeting with a nine-member delegation led by Bangladesh Buddhist Cultural Association President and Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery chief monk Buddhipriya Mahathero at Bangabhaban.
The president stressed the need to ensure equal rights and dignity for all communities and continue efforts to eliminate discrimination.
He said a committee representing minority communities would help bring their concerns and demands to the government's attention.
Highlighting the importance of education and human resource development in the Buddhist community, he said necessary steps should be taken to ensure that children and young people from the community are not left behind. He also urged educated and experienced members of the community to play a more active role in this regard.
During the meeting, delegation members briefed the president on various issues and challenges facing the Buddhist community, as well as its traditional religious and social activities.
The delegation also invited him to attend the Kathina Chivara Dana ceremony, scheduled to be held at Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery in Kamalapur, Dhaka, in November. The president expressed his willingness to attend the event.