Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has joined the mammoth public rally held to mark the imminent historic inauguration of the Padma Bridge.

She reached the gathering at Mawa point in Munshiganj at 10am on Saturday.

People from different regions across the country have flocked to Kathalbari of Madaripur to be a part of the historic inauguration of the Padma Bridge, the most challenging mega project in the country’s history.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 6.15-kilometre bridge at Mawa point.

Then the premier will begin her journey to Zajira point of Shariatpur where she will unveil the inaugural plaque of the bridge and a mural.

A mammoth public rally started in Kathalbari at 9am on Saturday to mark the imminent historic inauguration of the bridge.

The authorities, as part of the preparation to welcome the premier, have set up hundreds of archways and decorated roads leading up to Zajira from Kathalbari with colourful posters.

There will also be a cultural program at Zajira point following the rally. The premier will stay in Kathalbari till 5:30pm.

Marking the Padma Bridge inaugural ceremony and the Awami League rally, ruling party leaders and activists from different parts of the country have started gathering in the area.

“We cannot certainly tell you the number of people that will attend the rally on Saturday. This is not going to be a public rally, rather it will be a festival where people from different districts will come, listen to the premier, and will see the dream project for themselves,” Abdur Rahman, a presidium member of the Awami League, told Dhaka Tribune.

Although the main inaugural event has been organized at Mawa, it is expected that a larger portion of the crowd will gather at the Kathalbari point.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have taken adequate security measures to avert any untoward incident.

"Steps have been taken to ensure that all attendees can return home safely from after the public gathering," Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed told journalists after visiting the venue on Friday.

Members from different government agencies including SSF, DGFI, NSI, district police, Highway Police and River Police have been tasked with maintaining law and order at the venue ahead of today’s program.