May Day

Work together to build new Bangladesh, CA urges workers-owners

He made the call while speaking at a function marking May Day and National Occupational Health and Safety Day

BTV to air ‘John Henry’ tonight to celebrate a workers' spirit

“John Henry” was written by playwright Zamiur Rahman Lemon in 1985, inspired by the song “Naam Tar Chilo John Henry” by artiste Hemanga Biswas. Lemon has now thus reimagined the play for television.

Films that portray the lives of workers: Must-watch titles this May Day

International Workers’ Day, observed today, marks a historic day steeped in the struggles and sacrifices of workers across the world. Over the years, writers in every language have penned poems, novels, and stories about labour movements, while musicians have voiced their solidarity through songs. Equally powerful are the cinematic portrayals of working-class lives—films that go beyond mere entertainment to provoke thought and reflection.

Duronto TV to air special dance show on May Day

Duronto TV is set to commemorate International Workers’ Day with a special dance production titled “Nongor Tolo Tolo”. The performance blends mass songs with choreography by M R Wasek, featuring dancers from Nandankala Kendra.

Public servants to enjoy extended breaks with back-to-back holidays

This will be followed by the regular weekend on Friday and Saturday, granting government staff a three-day break

Labour, Life, and Liberation: The Emancipatory Significance of May Day

May Day is customarily credited with originating in 1886 from the eight-hour workday movement in the United States, but the Polish-German Marxist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg provides a distinct perspective on its genesis.

Books exploring workers’ rights in South Asia

In order to understand the background of the labour movements in South Asia or the plight of workers, here are some books to add to your reading list.

May Day / Making Bangladeshi workers safe for capitalism

If fast fashion must dominate the “national interest,” then at the very least we must compel the state apparatuses to play a truly mediating role on behalf of “the nation.

April 30, 2022
April 30, 2022

Does anyone care about the jute mill workers?

At a time when the demand for jute products in the world is increasing, and new private jute mills are being established, government workers are being handed over to the private mills.

May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019

A story untold

I was born in Nabinagar thana, Brahmanbaria district (the then Comilla district). My ancestors were not involved in any kind of job or business. At one point, our insolvency reached a point where it was no longer possible for me to continue my education, so I moved to Dhaka to earn a living.

May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019

Mayday May Day

The captain boasts of taking advantage of the tail wind, the earth’s rotation and the earth’s curvature, but the fact remains that Los Angeles (LAX) to the airline’s hub city takes no less than 16 hours.

May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019

Working for a brighter future in Asia

With nearly two decades of strong economic growth, the world’s highest employment ratios and lowest unemployment rates, and massive technological innovation, some say “Asia is the future” or even “The future is Asia”.

May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019

Labour Courts: Justice delayed

Sanowar Hossain is longing for justice for over nine years after he filed a case with a Dhaka labour court in 2010, seeking compensation for his termination by his employer in Gazipur.

April 30, 2019
April 30, 2019

May Day — how it came to be

The Day has its origin in the USA. In the late nineteenth century, the working class was in constant struggle to gain the 8-hour work day. Conditions were severe, and it was quite common for labourers to work 10 to 16 hours a day in unsafe conditions.

May 1, 2018
May 1, 2018

No mayhem, maintain cordial relations: PM to employers, workers

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urges both employers and workers to maintain cordial relations among them avoiding any mayhem in their workplaces.

May 1, 2018
May 1, 2018

May Day being observed

The historic May Day is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe with a pledge to establish the rights of workers.

May 1, 2018
May 1, 2018

Caught in a web of toil and torture

Every day, Rehana Khatun had to toil for hours for a family of 12 near Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Despite this, she was not properly fed and allowed to sleep for more than four hours.

May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017

PM urges owners, workers to work together for industrialisation

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urges the owners and workers of the industries to always keep in their mind the spirit of the immortal May Day and work together for country's industrialisation.