Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated that the country's next parliamentary election will be free, fair and credible.

"InshAllah, there will be a free, fair and impartial election in Bangladesh," said the prime minister while addressing a civic reception accorded to her at a hotel here.

The New York Metropolitan Awami League organised the reception on Friday evening.

The premier is now in New York to attend the 78th UNGA session.

Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said that BNP doesn't want an election. 

"Actually, does the BNP want the election? How do they want the election? Who is their leader?," she questioned.

"Fugitive convict, money thief, arms smuggler, murderer, grenade launcher of 21 August (is their leader);  if this is the leader of a party then why should people vote for that party and him," she wondered.

She mentioned that BNP didn't get votes in the 2008 election as well as didn't participate in the 2014 election.  

She mentioned that the BNP killed people by arson attacks in the name of preventing the election.

"How many lives have been taken? If you still see the faces of those burnt people; how terrible! It seems that those who did it were despicable."

Regarding the upcoming elections due in the first week of January, Hasina vowed to make it free, fair and impartial. 

"People will vote correctly," she told the audience.

She said the people of Bangladesh have at least realised that they got freedom by voting for boats (AL's election symbol).

She mentioned that the fate of the people has changed as a result of voting for this symbol, boat. 

"The image of Bangladesh has been brightened all over the world," she said.