Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said through metro rail the Awami League government added another feather of pride to the crown of Bangladesh’s people.

“We have added another feather of pride to the crown of Bangladesh’s people today. Another feather added to the crown of the development of Bangladesh,” she said.

The prime minister said this at a programme marking the inauguration of the country’s first metro rail at Uttara sector-15 playground.

She thanked the people of the country for giving the AL government the opportunity to serve them and the country,

“Through casting votes in favour of boat you have given chance to Awami League to serve you. For that I am expressing my gratitude to all people and voters,” she said.

She mentioned that with the inauguration of metro rail technologically Bangladesh people touched four milestones.

Firstly, metro rail itself is a milestone, secondly the country enters into the era of electric train.

“Thirdly, metro rail will be operated remotely using digital system. As a result this will be used to implement our pledge to establish the smart Bangladesh, and that means it added a new dimension,” she said.

Fourthly, she said, Bangladesh enters into the era of speedy train.

“The highest speed of this metro rail will be 110 kilometres per hour,” she added.

Hasina said that in the election pledge AL declared to take various kinds of steps to make Dhaka city free from traffic congestion.

“We have taken six metro rail lines which will be implemented by 2030. I think that after implementing all these metro rails skill and eligibility of the people of Bangladesh will be increased along their scopes for employment apart of contributing to the GDP.”

She said that metro rail is environment friendly and it will not cause any harm to the environment.

Read: PM opens country’s first ever metro rail service

Pointing to increasing number of traffic congestion in the country, the PM said that the purchasing capacity of the people is increased, economical capability of the people has increased.

“The number of personal vehicle using people has increased excessively. Because the economical capability of the people has increased,” she said.

The premier said that the metro rail would help reduce the city's traffic jam significantly.

She mentioned that special measures have been taken for the differently abled people including the persons with physical disabilities so they can easily travel by the metro rail.

She also said that a separate compartment has been introduced for the women.

 Hasina said the freedom fighters can travel by the metro rail free of cost.

She said that the government has taken measures to develop efficient work force to operate the metro rail shunning the dependency on foreigners.

“Employment for around 12000 engineers would be made in the metro rail project,” she said.

The prime minister also said huge amount of money has been invested alongside using modern equipment and digital device in the metro rail.

"Take care of the metro rail while using it. Make sure none can litter. I am urging all to use it maintaining due rule," she added.

She also said the opening of the metro rail is an example that people get benefits during the rule of Awami League.

Recalling the militant attacks on Holey Artisan, killing seven Japanese consultants, she said the attack was launched when the construction work of the metro rail was inaugurated by her.

She prayed for salvation of their departed souls and expressed her gratitude to late Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, saying he always played great role in Bangladesh's development.

“The construction work of the metro rail had started at the directive of Abe within few days of the Holey Artisan attack,” she said.

Read: PM opens 1st phase of metro rail today

The prime minister said a monument with the names of them (Japanese killed in Holey Artisan attack) has been built in Diabari.

She said her government is determined to build Smart Bangladesh by 2041 and the metro rail is one of the steps towards the journey.

PM Hasina said her government is working with short, mid and long term plans for ensuring overall development of the country.

"Due to the pragmatic steps of my government, Bangladesh has turned around in the last 14 years," she said.

She said Bangladesh attained recognition of a developing nation at a time when the country celebrated the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the country's Independence in 2021.

The prime minister vowed to build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041 maintaining the status of a developing nation confronting all hurdles.

'Bangalee will march ahead at indomitable pace. We will build hunger-and-poverty-free, developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh as envisioned by the Father of the Nation overcoming all odds," she said.

Japanese Ambassador IWAMA Kiminori, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office ICHIGUCHI Tomohide, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited ( DMTCL ) MAN Siddique and Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri also spoke at the programme.

PM’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present on the dais.

A documentary on metro rail was screened at the programme.