ZCZC
BSS-46
MAY-DAY
Historic May Day tomorrow
DHAKA, April 30, 2020 (BSS)- The historic May Day will be observed tomorrow
in the country and elsewhere across the world with due respect.
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 working people.
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 the day this year is “Sramik-Malik Oikya Gori, Sonar Bangla
Gore Tuli”.
All programmes of the day have been suspended due to Coronavirus pandemic
and to ensure social distance, said an official handout here today.
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.
He 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.
Abdul Hamid said the present worker-friendly government is playing role to
fix fair wages of workers, to stop child labour, to increase maternity leave
of women workers and to ensure safe work placesfor labourers.
The President urged the owners of mills and factories and other
organizations to come forward to help the workers along with the government
during the Coronavirus pandemic.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, being imbued with the
spirit of the May Day, the workers and owners would devote themselves to
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” as dreamt by the
Father of the Nation.
The Premier said the government is implementing various programmes to
ensurelivelihoods and welfare for labourers. The government has declared
minimum wage for workers in 38 industrial sectors, including garment sector,
she added.
The government has taken steps to give financial support to workers’
families, Sheikh Hasina said, adding, “We have declared Taka 5,000 crore
government support to give salaries of workers in the export sector to combat
the Coronavirus pandemic.”
State minister for Labour and Employment Begum MunnujanSufianalso wished
workers marking the May Day.
She urged the employers to maintain the health code as per the directives
of the Prime Minister to keep the wheel of economy on to reopen their mills
and factories.
For this, she said necessary steps would be taken through the concerned
departments like industrial police, inspecting departments and health
department.
BSS/pr/PSB/KU/2100 HRS