Historic May Day being observed

The historic May Day is being observed on Monday in the country and elsewhere across the globe with a renewed pledge to build an exploitation-free society by establishing the rights of the working people.

Several trade unions, professional bodies, worker groups, political parties, socio-cultural organizations, different government and non-government organizations have taken elaborate programmes to mark the day.

The programmes are being observed to press the demand for improving the labour working condition with better and competitive wages and job security.

The demand for a maximum eight-hour working day at all places was raised in different programmes on the occasion.

President 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. Leader of the Opposition Begum Rawshan Ershad and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad also issued messages on the occasion of the day.

Besides, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia also greeted all the working people on the day. The day is a public holiday. All public and private offices, educational institutions, courts, banks and mills and factories remain closed.

The May Day is also known as International Labour Day and the International Worker’s Day which is celebrated at international level to promote and encourage the international labour associations.

It is being celebrated all across the world every year on 1st of May which has been declared as the traditional spring holiday in Europe. It has also been declared as the national holiday in almost 80 countries of the world whereas it is being celebrated as an unofficial event in most of the countries.

The day is observed across the world every year since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA for an eight-hour working day and upholding the rights of the working class.

Working people sacrificed their lives on May 1, 1886 and the following days, for realising their demands, in bomb attacks and heavy police actions.

Like in the previous years, the Labour and Employment Ministry has drawn up an elaborate programme to observe the Day at the state level.

A colourful rally was brought out from in front of Srama Bhaban at RAJUK Avenue in the morning and it ended in front of the National Press Club on Topkhana Road after parading Dainik Bangla and Paltan intersections.

Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Betar and other private television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes on the occasion. National dailies published special supplements highlighting the significance of May Day.

On the occasion, Srama Bhaban, Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, different street islands of the capital were decorated with banners, festoons and placards.

The organizations celebrating the day also include Jatiya Sramik League, Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, Jatiya Sramik Dal, Trade Union Kendra, Jatiya Party, Bangladesher Workers Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Gano Sangskriti Front, Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Gano Forum, National Awami Party and different bodies of garment workers.

The programmes include colourful rallies, discussions and cultural functions.

Besides, workers’ rallies will also be organised at different industrial areas including in front of Fantasy Kingdom at Ashulia, Barabari in Gazipur, Melar Math at Tejgaon, at Nabisco Shaheed Minar and at Senpara at Mirpur in the afternoon.

Source: BSS