Historic May Day today

The historic May Day is being observed today (Wednesday) in the country and elsewhere across the world with due respect through various programmes.

The day is being observed across the globe since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA for eight-hour working day and upholding the rights of the workpeople.

To press home their demands, working people had to sacrifice their valuable lives in tragic bomb attacks and police atrocities on May 1, 1886 and the following days.

The theme of day this year is “Build Workers-Owners Unity, Take Oath for Development”.

To mark the day, different government and socio-cultural organizations, political parties, worker groups and trade unions, and professional bodies have chalked out elaborate programmes, including rallies and discussions.

President M 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 wishing success of all programmes on the occasion.

Terming the day-labourer and workpeople the key driving forces of country’s development, the President stressed on establishing workers’ rights, including providing them with fair wages as well as ensuring safe and hygienic working environment, to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and enhance productivity.

The head of the state called upon the toiling masses and workpeople to work jointly to materialize the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who envisioned the people’s economic emancipation alongside the political independence.

In her message, the premier said, being imbued with the spirit of the holy May Day, the workers and owners would devote themselves for increasing the national production by maintaining a good relation between them.

The head of the government hoped that due to the united efforts of all, including workers, the government would be able to build a non-communal, hunger and poverty-free, happy and prosperous “Sonar Bangla” earlier dreamed by the Father of the Nation.

The prime minister wished the May Day-2019 programmes a success.

Like in the previous years, the Labour and Employment Ministry has drawn up two-day programmes to observe the day at the state level.

A colourful was brought out from the Dainik Bangla crossing at 7 am and it ended in front of the National Press Club on Topkhana Road after parading different thoroughfares via RAJUK Avenue, Bangabandhu Avenue, Zero Point and the National Press Club.

In observance of the day, a discussion will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar at 4 pm today. The discussion will be followed by a cultural function.

On May 2, the ministry will arrange a seminar on workers’ rights at the National Press Club at 3 pm marking the May Day.

May Day is a public holiday. All public and private offices, courts, banks, mills and factories will remain closed.

Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar and other private sector television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes marking the day. National dailies have published special supplements commemorating the day.