The Bidi workers on Saturday (May 01, 2021) urged the government to take necessary measures to save the industry’s workers for ensuring the livelihood of millions of workers and their family members. They made the call at a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. The bidi is a smoked product made of unprocessed tobacco wrapped in leaves unique to South Asia. Bidi Sramik Federation president M K Bangali said thousands of bidi workers staged a rally in the city alongside Kushtia, Pabna, Bogura Tangail, Barisal, Patuakhali, marking the international May Day. Read Covid-19: Hasina for balancing livelihoods and public health “We broke out processions with various placards and posters of our demands. We are going through a miserable time as factories are being closed day by day,” he also said. Executive Member of the organization Anwar Hossain said they have to be united to press home their demand by taking the lesson of bloodshed history of the Labor Day. The historic May Day was observed today as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic which has rendered millions of workers jobless in recent months. “The COVID-19 hit our income hard, so the government should pay attention to us,” he also said. Read May Day: Workers trapped between hunger and fear Some 10 workers were killed in Chicago on May 1 in 1886 when police opened fire on a demonstration demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift. The authorities were eventually forced to accept the workers’ demand which resulted in an eight-hour working day universally. On July 14, 1889, an international workers' rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers' Solidarity Day in recognition of the workers' sacrifice in Chicago. Read PROGGA, ATMA for imposing specific taxes on tobacco products

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said livelihood activities need to be continued maintaining health hygiene amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The lives and livelihoods of people should go on. We can’t make people suffer. But it’s absolutely essential to follow health rules,” she said while addressing the concluding ceremony of the 71st foundation training course for BCS cadre officers. The Prime Minister joined the event, held at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) in Savar, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. She urged the people of the country to take measures so that everyone follows the health safety rules. Also Read: Second dose of Covid vaccine from Thursday: PM “The coronavirus pandemic has reappeared and now we can see that blow. Though we’ve taken some instant measures, maybe we’ll have to take tougher steps to save people, and we’ll do so,” she said pointing at the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister urged all to keep themselves protected and make others protected following the health rules, including the use of face masks. Pointing at the fresh cadre officers, the PM directed them to pay special attention so that everyone follows the health protection rules in their working areas where they are going to join. State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain and Public Administration’s Senior Secretary Shaikh Yusuf Harun also spoke on the occasion. BPATC Rector Rakib Hossain presented the report of the foundation training course. A total of 307 fresh cadre officers, including 89 women, participated in the course conducted at six cetnres in Dhaka, Chattogram, Cumilla and Bogura, and all of them successfully completed the training. Among them, 31 participants – 18 male officers and 13 female officers-- received the certificates of excellence in the training course. The State Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister, handed over the certificates to the first three participants for their outstanding performances during the training. Also Read: Will take action against those involved in vandalism: PM The participants from other training centres were virtually connected with the function. Mentioning her government’s various development plans and activities, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh today graduated to a developing country from the status of a least developed one as the government has been able to accelerate the pace of development programmes remaining in power for the last 12 years in a row. “Now our goal is to build a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041.” Describing the young officers as the soldiers of building a developed and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041, the Prime Minister directed them to perform their duties with confidence, honesty and sincerity to reach the goal as she may not be alive to run the State at that time.   “Aalways keep in mind that Bangladesh is our motherland. We’re Bangalees. We achieved the victory fighting a war. We’ll move ahead keeping our heads high in the world with dignity,” she said. She urged the administration to render services showing sincerity to people as they are owners of Bangladesh. Focusing on the government’s measures to build pro-people public administration, the PM said the government has made arrangements for civil service officers to obtain higher degrees and advanced training at home and abroad.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Sunday said the government has taken steps so that people can earn their livelihoods amid the coronavirus crisis.

Three United Nations (UN) agencies along with the government of Bangladesh on Sunday launched the Safe Access to Fuel and Energy Plus Livelihoods (SAFE Plus) project to mitigate deforestation and improve livelihood opportunities in Cox’s Bazar.