President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebeka Sultana on Saturday hosted a reception program at Bangabhaban on the occasion of the country's 53rd Victory Day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana joined the reception on the lush green lawn of the presidential palace in the afternoon.
Several thousand guests, including Speaker of Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, attended the function from 3:00pm to 4:45 pm.
Besides, cabinet members, advisers, state ministers, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, Supreme Court judges, chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, senior political leaders, academics, business community leaders, artistes, valiant freedom fighters and families of Birshreshtha gallantry award recipients and distinguished citizens attended the reception.
Newspaper editors and journalist leaders also attended the festive gathering alongside top civil and military officials.
President Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cut a cake on the occasion. They also exchanged greetings with the injured freedom fighters and other dignitaries and guests at the function.
Earlier, President Shahabuddin paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar at dawn on the occasion of the Victory Day at about 6:33am.
A contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented the state salute on the occasion.
Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the president observed a moment of solemn silence to pay tribute to the nation's War of Liberation martyrs in 1971 as the bugle sounded the final post.
President Shahabuddin also signed the visitors’ book kept there.
