The historic May Day is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the world today with a vow to establish the rights of workers.
The May Day, also known as International Workers’ Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, USA, at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday.
The day is a public holiday. This year the theme of the day is ‘Safe Workplace, Bangladesh will move forward’.
Trade unions and professional groups have taken up various programmes to observe the day to press for improving the working conditions with better wages for the workers and job security.
In the morning , the Labour and Employment Ministry brought out a colourful rally in the city. A discussion meeting was held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10 am on the significance of the day. Two seminars will be held at the same venue on Thursday on the occasion.
Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal held a rally in front of the National Press Club at 10 am.
Newspapers published supplements while radio and television channels are airing special programmes to mark the day.
President Abdul Hamid in a May Day message urged all to create employment opportunities and turn the huge population into resources alongside maintaining rights and interests of the working class people.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, expressed hope that both owners and workers will put in their best efforts to boost production in their factories through maintaining good relations between them.
She mentioned that the government has implemented various programmes to maintain unity and good relations between workers and owners and ensure a safe working environment.
In another message, leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia said the workers will have to intensify their ongoing movement against all kinds of injustice, repression and deprivation to realise their rights.
On May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an 8-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift. On the height of agitation, the authorities had to accept the workers’ demand and the eight-hour day has been introduced universally.
On July 14, 1889 in Paris, an international workers’ rally declared May 1 as the International Workers Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers’ sacrifice and achievement and since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers Solidarity Day.
Source: UNB Connect
