President Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Khanom will receive guests in the afternoon (from 5pm).

Joynal Abedin, press secretary to the president, told UNB that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to join the reception, to be held at the lawn of the presidential palace.

He said President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina will jointly cut a cake on the occasion.

"They will first exchange greetings with war-wounded freedom fighters and family members of Birshreshtha gallantry award recipients,” Joynal said. 

The president and the prime minister will assure them of extending all-out support for their welfare.

After that, they will exchange greeting with ministers, diplomats, state ministers, deputy ministers and other guests in the VVIP enclosure.

The guests

Valiant freedom fighters have been invited alongside family members of Birshreshtha gallantry award recipients at the Independence Day reception.

The chief justice, former presidents, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, ambassadors and high commissioners, Supreme Court judges, cabinet secretary, senior lawyers, chiefs of the three services, members of parliament, senior political leaders, editors, journalist leaders, senior civil and military officers, academics, business community leaders, artistes and distinguished citizens will also join the function.

Secretaries to the president and family members of the head of state will also attend the programme. 

A group of prominent singers will perform patriotic songs.

In the morning, President Hamid and Prime Minister Hasina paid tributes to the Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial, marking the 49th Independence and National Day.