Dhaka: The historic May Day is being observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the world today, marking the International Workers’ Solidarity Day. This annual event commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, USA, who fought for an eight-hour workday in the late nineteenth century.
According to United News of Bangladesh, this year’s theme is ‘Healthy Workers, Productive Hands, A New Dawn Awaits’ (Sustho Sramik, Karmotho Hat, Ashbe Ebar Nobo Provat). The day is recognized as a public holiday, with newspapers publishing supplements and radio and television channels airing special programs to highlight the significance of the event. Various socio-cultural organizations and political parties are observing the day with different programs.
The origins of May Day date back to May 1, 1886, when police opened fire on a demonstration in Chicago’s Hay Market, killing 10 workers who were demanding an eight-hour workday instead of a 12-hour shift. This agitation eventually led to the universal acceptance of the eight-hour workday. On July 14, 1889, an international workers’ rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day, recognizing the Chicago workers’ sacrifice. Since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman have issued separate messages on the occasion. President Shahabuddin highlighted the steps taken by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to establish workers’ rights and welfare. Continuing that legacy, the current government has adopted various programs and policies for the welfare of the working class, including labor law reforms, fair wages, social security, and trade union rights.
President Shahabuddin expressed hope that these programs would improve workers’ lives and emphasized the significant contribution of the working class to national development. He described workers as the main drivers of the country’s progress and called for ensuring workers’ rights, a safe working environment, and social security to build a prosperous Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman noted that working people are the backbone of any country’s development, prosperity, and progress. He emphasized the importance of improving living standards, ensuring fair rights, creating a safe working environment, and establishing social dignity for workers as key commitments of the current democratic government. He wished overall success for all programs undertaken on the occasion of May Day.