May Day observed

May Day observed

Different government, socio-cultural organisations, political parties, worker groups, trade unions, and professional bodies observed the historic May Day across Bangladesh on Wednesday.

The day was observed around the globe since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers of Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA for eight-hour working day and upholding the rights of the workpeople.

To press home their demands, working people had to sacrifice their lives in tragic bomb attacks and police atrocities on May 1, 1886, and the following days.

The theme of day this year is ‘Build Workers-Owners Unity, Take Oath for Development’.
Marking the day, they arranged elaborate programmes including rallies and discussions.

Communist Party of Bangladesh president Muzahidul Islam Selim said that 80 per cent workers fought in the Liberation War in 1971 but their freedom was yet to be established.

He said this at a programme hosted by Garment Workers Trade Union Centre at Paltan area in Dhaka.

The union president Montu Ghosh in his speech said, ‘Owners in cooperation with the government are still cheating with workers defying their rights.’

National Garment Workers Federation also held a rally in Paltan area.

Federation president Amirul Haque Amin said that senior workers were being terminated at different garment factories without any service benefits.

Workers Party of Bangladesh president Rashed Khan Menon at the event said that factory owners were building residences, buying cars while workers were fighting for three meals a day.

‘Start pension scheme for all workers,’ he asked the government.

Rashed Khan also urged the workers to be united for movement if the government did not meet their demand.

Socialist Workers Front general secretary Razequzzaman Ratan said that present compensations for workers who fall victim of various accidents and disaster were insufficient.
The front held a rally at Topkhana Road.

Grameenphone Employees Union president Fazlul Haque at the rally said that corporate houses should stop outsourcing by appointing permanent staff for the posts urging them to stop unpaid working hours and create scope for free trade union.

Dhaka Metro Private Car and Taxi Cab Drivers Union president Almas Khan demanded appointment letter for drivers and job security.

President M Abdul Hamid and prime minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion of the historic May Day.

They extended their greetings to all working people of the world, including Bangladesh wishing success of all programmes on the occasion.

May Day is a public holiday. All public and private offices, courts, banks, mills and factories are remained closed.

Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes marking the day. National dailies published special supplements commemorating the day.