United News of Bangladesh

Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP, is all set to hold a massive workers' rally in the capital on Thursday, marking the historic May Day. “Two committees formed by the Sramik Dal are working tirelessly to celebrate the great May Day. They have completed all preparations to hold the rally tomorrow (Thursday),” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he said the Sramik Dal has already informed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner about the rally through a letter. He said the rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm in front of their party’s Nayapaltan central office. “We hope that on this great day of establishing rights, working people will attend the rally to protest their sufferings,” Rizvi said. He said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will deliver an important speech on the current labour situation and contemporary national politics at the rally as the chief guest. Sramik Dal to hold rally at Nayapaltan on May Day Besides, Rizvi said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with top national leaders and labour leaders, will speak at the workers' rally. He said Sramik Dal has already prepared leaflets, banners, and festoons with 12 demands. “We hope that working people from all walks of life will participate in the great May Day workers' rally organised by the Sramik Dal as a platform for the working class to establish their rights, including the formation of free trade unions, decent work, safe workplaces, and a rationing system for workers,” the BNP leader said. Earlier on April 22, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the plan to hold the rally, aiming for a massive turnout at the programme, where Sramik Dal will present a set of basic demands on behalf of the country’s working class. Sramik Dal to hold rally in city Wednesday to mark May Day He said leaders and activists from Sramik Dal’s Dhaka South and North city units, as well as those from districts adjoining Dhaka, will join the rally, where BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to address as the chief guest virtually. As it is a public holiday, he expressed the hope that there will be less suffering for commuters due to the large rally.

The historic May Day will be observed in Bangladesh on Monday as elsewhere across the world with due respect. May Day, also known as the 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 in the late nineteenth century. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. This year, the theme of the day in Bangladesh is "Sramik-Malik oikkya gori smart Bangladesh gore tuli,'' (roughly translated reads: 'Build workers-employers unity, build smart Bangladesh’). Newspapers will publish supplements while radio and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day. Different organizations, political parties chalked out various programmes to observe the day. 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 eight-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, 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 as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day. The day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day since 1890. President Md Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages ahead of the day. Read more: May Day to be observed Sunday The President said the progress of the country's industries and trade needs an investment-friendly environment, workers’ concentration and workers-employers relations. Through positive participation of workers and employers, stability and productivity in the labour sector will increase, he said. “I hope that all concerned will play they respective role to improve their standard of living and protect their just rights,” he said. The Prime Minister in her message said, “I believe that inspired by the ideals of the great May Day, workers and employers will be dedicated to increase national production by maintaining good relations with each other. We will build a developed and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangladesh’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation by working for the welfare of working people and the country's overall development.”  

The historic May Day is being observed on Saturday as the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic which has rendered millions of workers jobless across the world in recent months. In normal times, the day is a public holiday in Bangladesh and marked with a slew of events. But there are no outdoor events this year, like 2020, as the country battles the second wave of the virus. Also Read: May Day to be celebrated Saturday May Day, also called the International Workers' Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of the working class in Chicago for an eight-hour workday. This year, the theme for this historic day in Bangladesh is 'Sramik-Malik Nirbisesh, Mujib Borshe-Gorbo Desh' (workers and employers will join hands to build the country in the Mujib Year). President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages ahead of the day. President Hamid called upon the owners of mills and factories to assist the government in standing by the vulnerable workers bearing the brunt of the pandemic. He paid gratitude to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for struggling throughout his life for the underprivileged people. "Bangladesh received ILO membership soon after independence in 1972 under the bold leadership of the Father of the Nation and ratified 29 conventions, including six core conventions of ILO,” he added. Prime Minister Hasina also remembered the role of Bangabandhu in establishing the rights of the exploited and working class people. "Bangabandhu formulated labour policy 1972 in order to establish an exploitation free and equal society. He nationalised the mills and factories to strengthen the economy while ensuring the rights of the workers," she said. The PM said her government is working relentlessly to establish the rights of workers. "Our government has established 100 special economic zones, which will generate employment for more than one crore people," she said. "We allocated Tk 8,600 crore for workers’ wage to combat the pandemic.” The Prime Minister said the government has allocated Tk 50 crore to Labour Directorate to implement the social safety programme for the unemployed and distressed workers. Ten workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in Chicago demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift on May 1, 1886. The authorities were eventually forced to accept the workers' demand, which resulted in an eight-hour 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 Chicago workers' sacrifice. The day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day since 1890. Also Read: Historic May Day being observed

The historic May Day will be observed on Saturday as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic which has rendered millions of workers jobless across the world in recent months. In normal times, the day is a public holiday in Bangladesh and marked with a slew of events. But there will be no outdoor event this year, like 2020, as the country battles the second wave of the virus. Bangladesh is going through a lockdown that will last until May 5. Like every year, newspapers will publish supplements while radio and television channels will air special programs to emphasise the significance of this day. May Day, also called the International Workers' Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of the working class in Chicago for an eight-hour workday. This year, the theme for this historic day in Bangladesh is "Sramik-Malik Nirbisesh, Mujib Borshe-Gorbo Desh” (roughly translated reads: workers and employers will join hands to build the country in the Mujib Year). President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages ahead of the day. President Hamid called upon the owners of mills and factories to assist the government in standing by the vulnerable workers bearing the brunt of the pandemic. He paid gratitude to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for struggling throughout his life for the underprivileged people. "Bangladesh received ILO membership soon after independence in 1972 under the bold leadership of Father of the Nation and ratified 29 conventions including six core convention of ILO,” he added. Prime Minister Hasina also remembered the role of Bangabandhu in establishing the rights of the exploited and working class people. "Bangabandhu formulated labour policy 1972 in order to establish an exploitation free and equal society. He nationalised the mills and factories to strengthen the economy while ensuring the rights of the workers," she said. She said her government is working relentlessly to establish the rights of workers. "Our government has established 100 special economic zones, which will generate employment for more than one crore people," she said. "We allocated Tk 8,600 crore for workers’ wage to combat the pandemic.” The Prime Minister said the government has allocated Tk 50 crore to Labour Directorate to implement the social safety programme for the unemployed and distressed workers. Ten workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in Chicago demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift on May 1, 1886. The authorities were eventually forced to accept the workers' demand which resulted in an eight-hour 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 Chicago workers' sacrifice. The day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day since 1890.

The historic May Day will be observed on Friday in the country as elsewhere across the world with due respect.