President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr Rebeka Sultana on Saturday hosted a reception programme at Bangabhaban on the occasion of the country's 52nd 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 Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) Speaker 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.

On the occasion, President Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also cut a cake. 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 Mausoleum 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.

After placing the wreath, the president stood in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the country’s War of Liberation in 1971 as the bugle played the last post.

President Shahabuddin also signed the visitors’ book kept there.