Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed the inauguration of the Padma rail link project as the day of fulfilling the dream of crossing the Padma River by train. She also sought votes for the 'Boat' in the upcoming national parliament election to serve the countrymen once again.
The completion of the bridge and rail link with the country's own funds is clear evidence that no one can suppress the people of Bangladesh, she added.
"The rail link has been installed. We have built the Padma Bridge with our own funds as well. As a result, we, the people of Bangladesh, about whom Bangabandhu spoke, cannot be suppressed by anyone," the premier said.
Labelling the Padma rail line as another gift to the people after the Padma Bridge, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina called upon the people of Faridpur and the nearby districts to vote for Boat, the electoral symbol of the Awami League. She said, "The BNP-Jamaat will destroy the country if they come to power, and only our party can save the country from the devastation."
The premier made these remarks while addressing the inauguration of the Padma rail link project's Dhaka-Mawa section. A grand rally was arranged alongside the event
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the train service on the 82km Dhaka-Bhanga route through the Padma Bridge.
She inaugurated the milestone project from Mawa Railway Station in Munshiganj.
In the morning, PM Hasina left her official residence, Ganabhaban, at 10am and reached the civic rally venue at 10:57am by road.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, and grandchildren accompanied her. They were received at the venue by Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.
Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan chaired the inauguration, and Secretary Md Humayun Kabir delivered the welcome speech.
Local lawmaker (Munshiganj-2) Shagufta Yasmin, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen also spoke on the occasion.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Railways Ministry ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Bangladesh Railway Director General Md. Quamrul Ahsan, and Project Director Afzal Hossain were on the dais.
While unveiling the inaugural plaque of the project, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reaffirmed her vow to make Bangladesh's next general election free and fair.
"The country has witnessed free, fair, and neutral elections whenever Awami League was in state power, but now there are some people who are talking about the free and fair election," she added in the inaugural speech.
PM crosses the Padma River by train
After opening the new train services, the premier and her entourage crossed the mighty Padma River by a special train through the Padma Bridge, which took around one hour to cross the 82-kilometre rail line and reach Mawa to Bhanga station.
As the first passenger of the train services, Sheikh Hasina collected tickets from the Mawa station booth and boarded the train by waving a green flag and blowing a whistle.
The special train with 14 coaches also carried 50 other people from different professions, apart from the Prime Minister's family members and dignitaries.
While the train was running, Sheikh Hasina also visited some other compartments and talked with her co-passengers.
At that time, this correspondent observed Sheikh Hasina, who hails from Gopalganj district, saying in a cheerful mood: "I am the daughter of the bay of the Padma; that is why I am very excited today and sharing my feelings with you."
Thousands welcome PM at Faridpur rally
On reaching Bhanga station, Sheikh Hasina, along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Awami League leaders, joined a grand rally at Dr Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium in Faridpur.
Central Awami League leaders spoke at the rally, presided over by Faridpur district Awami League President Shamim Haque and moderated by its General Secretary Shah Md Ishtiaq Arif.
Supporters of the Awami League and the general people of Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, and surrounding districts were waiting to see Sheikh Hasina there amid the heavy sun.
However, the newly constructed stadium turned into a human sea as the people had been waiting with great enthusiasm since the morning and chanted different slogans in favor of the Awami League government and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
They expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for constructing the Padma Bridge and the rail link, putting an end to their longstanding sufferings in communication.
