The country, like elsewhere in the world, is observing the historic May Day today (May 1) with demands for ensuring workers’ rights.Countries around the globe observe the day 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 working class. To observe the day, various labour bodies will hold rallies, bring out processions and organise discussions to press home their demands, including the national minimum wage of Tk 20,000 and workplace safety.Worker groups and trade unions, political parties, different government and socio-cultural-professional organisations chalked out elaborate programs to observe the day.

May Day, also known as International Workers’ Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, the USA at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday.

This year the theme of the day in Bangladesh is ‘Sramik-Malik Garba Desh, Smart Hobe Bangladesh’ (workers and owners together will build a smart Bangladesh).

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, wishing a success of all the programmes taken on the occasion.

The day is a public holiday. All public and private offices, courts, banks and mills and factories are closed.

The labour and employment ministry will hold May Day discussions to mark the day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre today on Wednesday.

Jatiya Sramik League will hold a workers rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in front of the party central office at 3:00pm today to mark the day in which Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader will speak.

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s labour front Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal will hold a workers rally in front of its Naya Paltan central office at 3:00pm.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh will hold a rally in front of its central office at Purana Paltan this morning.

The Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati will hold a rally at Ashulia in front of the Fantasy Kingdom this morning where president of the organisation Taslima Akhter will speak.

It will also hold rallies in Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram and other industrial belts on the day.

Garments Sramik Oikya Forum will hold a rally at Ulail in Savar at 4:00pm where its president Mushrefa Mishu will speak.

Imarat Nirman Sramik Union will hold a rally in front of Muktangan at 10:00am.  

Socialist Labour Front will hold a rally in front of the National Press Club at 11:00am.

Jatiya Sramik Jote, labour front of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jasod will hold a rally in front of its central office at Bangabanhu Avenue at 10:00am.

Other programmes include publishing souvenirs, special supplements in national dailies, holding Television (TV) talk shows, displaying TV scroll-messages, showing TV documentaries, making awareness videos, delivering text messages on mobiles and decorating road islands.