Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reaffirmed her vow to make the country's upcoming national election free, fair and neutral, reflecting the will of the people.

"There are some people who talk about free, fair and neutral election. But the country has witnessed free and neutral elections whenever the Awami League has been in power," she told a jubilant rally while inaugurating the Dhaka-Bhanga railway line at Mawa close to the Padma Bridge.

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She unveiled the inaugural plaque of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project before joining the rally.

The prime minister slammed those who talk of throwing Awami League government out of power.

"In fact, they don't want neutral election," she said.

Without mentioning the name of BNP, Hasina said that this party was established by a person who grabbed power illegally. "They came to power by rigging votes."

However, in a free and fair election held in 2008 BNP-Jamaat 20-party alliance got only 29 out of 300 parliamentary seats as people rejected vote thieves. Since then, they have been staying away from election, she said.

"Apart from boycotting the polls, they resorted to arson terrorism, killing innocent people and destruction of public properties," she added.

Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, urged the people not to allow vested quarters to play duck and drakes with the fate of the Bangalee nation.

Bangladesh, she said, will march forward with its head held high in the world bearing the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

She reiterated her vow to transform Bangladesh into a smart country by 2041. "We will build smart population, smart economy, smart government and smart society. It is our goal, No one will be able to hold back the Bangalees. The Bangalee (nation) will remain united."

Without naming Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, the prime minister said that the World Bank stopped funding to the Padma Bridge because of this person only for the position of a managing director, which he lost due to age limit.

"I promised that day, we will build the Padma Bridge with own financing, and we have done it," she added.

Bangabandhu's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana was present at the ceremony.

With Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan in the chair, Secretary of the Ministry Md. Humayun Kabir delivered welcome address.

Member of the Parliament from the local constituency (Munsiganj-2) Sagufta Yasmin Emily, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen also spoke.

At the outset, a video documentary showcasing Padma Bridge rail link project along with other development works of Bangladesh Railway under the present government was screened.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Railways Ministry ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Kamrul Ahsan and Project Director Afzal Hossain were on the dais.

AL leaders, activists throng Bhanga rally venue ahead of PM's arrival

Awami League leaders and activists of different upazilas of Faridpur, Rajbari, Gopalganj, Madaripur, and Shariatpur districts have started to gather at the rally venue at Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium at Bhanga.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is on her way to Bhanga in the newly inaugurated train on the Dhaka-Bhanga railway.

Hasina inaugurated the line from a programme at Mawa Rail Station at 12:25pm today. The prime minister later left Mawa around 1:00pm.

The prime minister will address a public meeting organised by Faridpur district Awami League at Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium as the chief guest around 2:00pm.

Bhanga upazila, particularly the area adjacent to the Bhanga Railway Station and the junction of the Dhaka-Bhanga expressway, has been decorated and lit up to welcome the PM. Banners and festoons have been decorated highlighting the various developmental works of the government.

Md Shahjahan, superintendent of police in Faridpur, said, "All necessary security measures have been taken on the occasion of the prime minister's visit to Faridpur."