Rajshahi Correspondent :
The historic May Day was observed in the city and other adjoining areas here yesterday with a fresh vow to uphold the rights of working people through maintaining harmony between labors and owners.
Various political parties, trade unions, labour and socio-cultural organisations had chalked out elaborate programmes including hoisting of national and labour- flags atop the offices of trade unions and labour organisations, discussion meetings, rallies and cultural functions for marking the day.
In observation of the day, district administration and Divisional office of the Labour Directorate jointly brought out a rally and organised a post-rally discussion on significance of the day on its office premises here.
With Joint Director of Labour Directorate Akhter Hossain Khan in the chair, Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, addressed the discussion as the chief guest.
Deputy Commissioner Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, local unit president of Jatiya Shramik League Badruzzaman Khayer, President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abu Bakker Ali and ADC (General) Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid also spoke.
The speakers laid emphasis on greater unity among the working people to establish their legal rights.
Besides, local units of tempo, auto-rickshaw and mishuk labourers unions brought out separate processions, which was paraded the main streets of the city.
The procession was followed by discussion and milad mahfil on their Sapura office premises. Mayor of Rajshahi Mosaddique Hossain Bulbul addressed the discussion as the chief guest.
BSS from Faridpur adds: Overseas Employment and Expatriate Welfare Minister Engineer Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain announced that under the present government Trade unions will be allowed to function in all the factories of the country to ensure the rights of the workers.
The minister while addressing a May Day rally on Thursday at Janata Bank square organized by Faridpur unit of Jatiyo Sramik League said the government wants to bring an end to the unhindered exploitation of the owners of mills and factories in absence of trade unions.
Addressing the rally Mosharraf said the labors and the working people during the immediate past government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina got their wages increased to manifold particularly in garments sector along with other facilities that did not fulfill any other past successive governments.
BSS from Rangpur adds: The historic May Day was observed with a call for establishing dignity, honour, just socioeconomic and human rights of the working people through daylong programmes in the northern districts on Thursday.
The district administrations, labour and trade bodies, socio- political, professional cultural organizations chalked out daylong programmes at district and upazila levels in observance of the great Day amid huge enthusiasm and festivity.
The programmes included placing floral wreaths at the Shaheed Minars, hoisting of national, labour, organizational flags and red flags, processions, serving improved to the workers, holding of discussion meetings, cultural and prize distribution functions.
In Rangpur, dozens of processions were organised by some sixty different organisations of the working people including women workers parading the streets since the morning and discussions were arranged at many points in the city.
The district administration in association with different workers’ organisation organized huge colourful rally participated by the workers, officials and employees of different government departments, socio-cultural and political activists, elite and workers.
District Motor Sramik Union led by its General Secretary Abdul Mazid and Jatiya Sramik League (JSL) brought out separate May Day rallies chanting various slogans in favour of the working class people.
Sammilito Garments’ Sramik Federation, Jatiya Bidyut Sramik League, BADC Sramik Karmochari League, Jatiya Rickshaw Van Sramik League, Rupali Bank Sramik League, Sonali Bank Sramik League, Uttara Bank Sramik League, Janata Bank Sramik League brought out processions.
Truck and Tank Lorry Sramik League, Krishi-Farm Sramik Federation, Dokan Karmochari Union, WDB Sramik League, Swarno Shilpi Samity, Electronic Sramik Union, Rang-Mistri Nirman Sramik Union, Auto Rickshaw Sramik Oikya Jote, Restaurant Sramik and Workers’ Union observed the Day.
Different political parties including Awami League (AL), its front organisations, BNP, Communist Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal, Ganotantry Party, Workers’ Party, labour and trade organisations chalked out programmes.
After the processions, thousands of the working people gathered on the Central Shaheed Minar premises to attend the main discussion with President of district unit of Sramik League Abdus Salam in the chair.
Deputy Commissioner Farid Ahammad attended the main discussion as the chief guest while Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Shahidul Islam, Additional Police Super Joynul Abedin, Acting President of district AL Mamtaz Uddin and its Office Secretary Tauhidur Rahman Tutul addressed as the special guests.
The Islamic Foundation Bangladesh arranged a discussion meeting to discuss importance of the Day at its auditorium in the city with Chief Executive Officer of Rangpur City Corporation Alhaj Ruhul Amin Khan in the chair.
Professor Dr Rwidwan Al Madani of Al-Twaira University at the holy city of Madina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia attended the discussion as the chief guest while Director General of the Islami Research Centre at Dinajpur Dr Syed Ershad Ahmed Al Bukhari addressed as the special guests.
Phulbari (Dinajpur) Correspondent adds: Boropukurai Coal Mainig Compani Limited Sramik and Karmochari Union (CBA) and Boropukuria Coal Mine Sramik and Karmochari Union jointly observed International May Day on the compound of Boropukuria Coal Mine in Phulbari upazila under Dinajpur on Thursday.
Md. Abul Kasam Sikder , President , Boropukurai Coal Mainig Company Ltd , Boropukurai Coal Mainig Compani Limited Sromik and Karmochari Union (CBA) Senior Vice-president Md. Jahangir Alam, Md. Aminul Islam, General Secretary Md. Rafiqul Alam Rafiq, Joint General Secretary Mohiuddin Ahmmad, Organizing Secretary Md. Abdur Razzak and Treasurer Md. Shahin Mandol took part in the discussion meeting.
A grand rally was brought out in the main campus to mark the International May Day.
Another Sromik organization of Phulbari Dokan Sromik Carmochari union, Motor Sramik union, Trak Sramik union, Tampo Sramik union, Decoretor Sromik union, Tubwell Sromik union, Tailoring Sromik union, Kuli Sromik union and Rickshaw ven Sramik union separately observed May Day.
Gouripur Correspondent adds: The May Day was observed in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh district in a befitting manner on May 1 with colourful processions and the voicing of the workers’ demand for pay-hike to enable them to cope with continued inflation and price-spiral.
Apart from the government, various trade and labour unions, human rights organisations, professional bodies, socio-cultural organisations and political parties observed the day by staging rallies, holding seminars, discussions and cultural programmes in the upazila and elsewhere.
The day was a public holiday, and the entire town was full of programmes of the working class people carrying red banners and flags and chanting slogans for the workers’ rights.
