DHAKA, Dec 16, 2017 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom today hosted a reception at Bangabhaban marking the country’s 47th Victory Day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the reception on the lush green lawn of the President’s palace here.
Several thousand of guests gathered on the green lawn of the Bangabhaban from 3 pm to 5pm on the occasion.
Victory Day is a national holiday celebrated on December 16 to commemorate the victory of the allied forces over the Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
The Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the joint forces of Bangladesh and India ending the ninth-month Liberation War and secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.
President Hamid along with his wife and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanged greetings with the guests after the national anthem was sung.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahab Miah, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, ambassadors and high commissioners of different countries, Supreme Court judges, cabinet secretary,
Senior lawyers, members of parliament, chiefs of the three services, senior political leaders, editors, journalist leaders, families of Birshreshthas, artistes, cultural personalities, senior civil and military officers, academics, business community leaders, and distinguished citizens also joined the function.
Besides, forty three members of the National Cadet Corps of four countries – Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and the Maldives — also attended the reception.
The President and the Prime Minister cut a Victory Day cake on the occasion.
President Hamid and PM Sheikh Hasina exchanged greetings with the injured freedom fighters and other guests.
They also enquired about the wellbeing of the injured freedom fighters and assured all-out support for their welfare.
During the reception, country’s renowned artistes, including Rafiqul Islam, Abdia Sultana and Haidar Hossain, rendered patriotic songs while children and an army band performed at the reception.