The May Day commemorates the killing of several demonstrating workers by police on May 1, 1886 on a street at Hay Market in Chicago, USA. They were demanding an eight-hour workday instead of a 12-hour one and recognition of the dignity of labour, among other things.

Apart from the government, various labour and socio-cultural organisations, and political parties have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.

Today is a public holiday. The state-run Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar will broadcast special programmes while national dailies are bringing out special supplements on this occasion.

President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Opposition Leader in Parliament Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the historic day.

They paid rich tributes to the memories of the May Day martyrs and urged the people to observe the day showing proper respect to their struggles and noble sacrifice to realise workers' rights.

The Labour and Employment Ministry will take out a procession at 9:30am from Shrama Bhaban, which led by State Minister Aman Ullah Aman will parade to Osmani Memorial Auditorium via the Zero Point. A discussion meeting will then be held there at noon with the prime minister as the chief guest.

In a joint May-Day statement, Communist Party of Bangladesh President Monjurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary (GS) Mujahidul Islam Selim said the working-class in Bangladesh were leading an inhuman life due to closure of factories one after another, retrenchment of and tortures on workers and non-payment of the minimum wages.

Bikalpa Dhara of Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury will organise a May Day discussion and a rally at 11am at Segun Bagicha in the city.

Swadhin Bangla Garments Sramik-Karmachari Federation will hold a meeting in front of the Engineers Institution at 9:30am and then take out a procession from there to Muktangan.

Jatiya Sramik League, the workers front of the major opposition Awami League, has undertaken a daylong programme to mark the day. It will hold a workers rally in Narayangonj at 3pm, where opposition leader Shiekh Hasina will speak as the chief guest.

In a statement, Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra (Btuk) President Mohammed Nurul Islam and GS Wajedul Islam Khan said workers of Bangladesh were deprived of their basic rights and thousands of them had become jobless due to shut down of factories one after another.

The Btuk will bring out a procession after a workers rally at the Central Shaheed Minar at 9am.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Hoq Inu and GS Syed Zafar Sajjad in a statement said workers must unite to establish their rule.

To mark the day, Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Jote will organise a rally at 10am on Bangabandhu Avenue and Sramik Karmachari Oikka Parishad will take out a procession from Osmani Uddyan at 11am.

Dhaka Union of Journalists and Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists will hold a discussion on this occasion.

Karmajibi Nari, a women organisation, will hold a rally of women workers at Muktangon.

Other organisations that have taken up various programmes to observe the day include Bangladesh Garments Sramik Mukti Andolon, Bangladesh Sramik Kallyan Federation, National Garments Workers Federation, Bangladesh Garment Workers Unity Council, Bangladesh Sanjukta Sramik Federation, Garments Workers Unity Forum, Dhaka Metropolitan Taxicab Drivers Union, Building Construction Labour Union of Mirpur and Pallabi and many socio-cultural organisations.