The historic May Day was observed in Bangladesh on Sunday as elsewhere across the world with a fresh vow to establish the rights of workers. May Day, also known as 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. The day was a public holiday. The Labour and Employment Ministry observed the day with various programmes. The main programme of the day was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city at 4pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the programme. A cultural function organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy was held later. Among other programmes, Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Union arranged a rally at Syadabad in the city at 10am. Habibur Rahman Mollah, Member of Parliament from Dhaka-5 constituency, was present there as the chief guest while president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Union Abdul Wadud Noyon and its general secretary M Karam Ali were present as the special guests. Addressing a rally organised by Jatiya Sramik Jote in front of Zero Point in the city’s Gulistan area, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu urged owners to pay the valid salaries to workers. Other trade unions and professional groups also arranged various programmes to observe May Day. Garment Workers Trade Union Centre brought out separate rallies at Nabisco Shaheed Minar in Tejoan industrial area and Aftab Nagar in Rampura of the capital marking the day. Garment workers were seen brining out processions at Paltan, Rampura, Malibagh and other parts of the capital and in different industrial areas across the country on the day, demanding justice for the victims of Rana Plaza incident. Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha and Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Jote observed different programmes in the capital and different places of the country marking the day. Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB) also arranged a rally in the capital on the occasion. President Abdul Hamid in a May Day message urged all to come forward for ensuring welfare of the working class people through establishing their rights and dignity, including due wage, safety and hygienic working environment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, expressed hope that both owners and workers will put in their best efforts to boost production in their factories through maintaining good relations between them, according to a news agency.
