May Day is being observed across Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world on Sunday.
Different labour organisations as well as political parties have been organising discussions and rallies and brought out processions in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country with a call to uphold rights of the workers.
May Day, also known as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in the United States city of Chicago at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday in the late nineteenth century.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
This year, the theme for this historic day in Bangladesh is ‘Sramik-Malik Ekota, Unnoyoner Nischoyota” (roughly translated reads: Workers-owners unity, assurance of development).
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages ahead of the day.
President Hamid called upon all stakeholders to work together to ensure the welfare of the country’s workers.
“In order to survive in today’s competitive world, workers and employers along with the government will need to be more dedicated to maintaining a good relationship to boost production,” the President said.
The Prime Minister in her message said, “Our government has taken all possible measures to tackle the Covid situation, including distribution of relief among the working people to stand beside them.”
She urged all to build a happy, rich and Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu by working for the welfare of the working people and the country.
Newspapers published supplements while radio and television channels are airing special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
In Dhaka, different labour organisations including Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra, Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra, National Workers’ Unity Centre, Jatiya Samajtantrik Jote, United Workers’ Democratic Front and Jatiya Samajtantrik Sramik Jote brought out separate processions to mark the day.
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal held a rally in front of the central office of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party at Naya Paltan in Dhaka.
On May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift. At the height of agitation, authorities had to accept the workers’ demand and the eight-hour day was introduced universally.
On July 14, 1889, an international workers’ rally in Paris 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.
– With New Age input
