May Day observed across Bangladesh
Workers demand safety, Tk 20,000 min monthly wage
Dhaka: People on Monday observed International Workers’ Day, widely known as May Day, across Bangladesh and elsewhere around the globe.
Trade unions and different labour rights organisations organised rallies and discussions and brought out processions in Dhaka and elsewhere across the country.
Labour leaders said that workers were passing hard time to run their families amid price hikes of the essential commodities.
They also demanded that the government should set Tk 20,000 as the minimum monthly wage of a worker as prices of essentials had gone up over time.
They urged the government not to cut jobs of any worker and demanded housing facilities, health insurance and pension as prescribed by the law.
They also demanded an end to the oppression on workers.
Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad held a rally in front of the Purna Paltan crossing. Labour leader Abdul Kader Hawlader chaired the programme.
Ratan, Saifuzzaman Badsha, Badal Khan and others spoke at the rally.
They demanded safety of the workers at their workplaces and realised a nine-point demand of the organisation for the welfare of the workers.
SKOP will hold a protest rally on May 13 in Dhaka demanding cancellation of the essential services bill placed in the parliament.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, JSD held a rally in front of the National Press Club where its president ASM Abdur Rob called on the government to increase wages of the workers immediately.
Communist Party of Bangladesh held a rally in front of the party’s central office. The party’s general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, former president Mujahidul Islam Selim and others addressed the rally.
Ganosamhati Andolan held a rally in front of the National Press Club. The party’s chief coordinator Zonayed Saki and executive coordinator Abul Hassan Rubel addressed the rally.
Bangladesh Trade Union Centre held a rally at Topkhana Road. The organization’s general secretary Wajedul Islam Khan addressed the programme.
Garment Workers’ Trade Union Centre held a rally at Purana Paltan crossing. The party president Mantu Ghosh chaired the programme.
Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha, Socialist Labour Front, Garment Sramik Oikya Forum, Textile Garment Workers Federation, Sramik Karmachari Federation, Garment Workers Trade Union Centre, among others, held rallies and bought out processions in Dhaka marking the day.
Trade union leaders demanded freedom of trade union and other rights of workers.
The day was a public holiday.
Jatiya Samajtranrik Dal held a rally in front of its central office at Bangabandhu Avenue. The party president Hasanul Haq Inu spoke at the programme.
Garments Sramik Oikya Forum and some other labour rights bodies held rallies in Savar and Ashulia.
The day was also observed by Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Mukti Council, Jatiya Sramik League, Bangladesh Sramik Karmachari Federation, Imarat Nirman Sramik Union Bangladesh, Tannery Workers Union and Jatiya Sramik Federation, among others.
Safety and Rights Society, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies and Sramik Nirapatta Forum also observed the day.
International Workers’ Day marks the 1886 uprising of workers at Hay Market in Chicago for their rights, including eight-hour working day. Several workers were killed on the day in police firing.
May 1 was adopted as International Workers’ Day by socialist delegates in Paris in 1889.
