The historic May Day was observed in Chattogram city and its adjacent districts on Monday amid fresh demand to ensure justified rights of workers and their safety in workplaces.
Different political parties, trade unions, Hotel Sramik Union and Readymade Garment (RMG) workers' organizations observed the day through various programmes, which included discussions and rallies.
Different Labour organizations as well as political parties also organized discussions and rallies and brought out processions in Chattogram city and elsewhere in the district with a call to uphold the rights of the workers.
Besides the city, workers of industrial belts and its outskirts including Sitakunda, Fouzderhat, Patenga, Nasirabad, Biyazeed, Karnaphuli and Kalurghat also held rallies, processions and organized cultural programmes marking the day.
This year's theme of the day is 'Sramik-Malik Oikyo Gori, Smart Bangladesh Gorey Tuli' (Let us forge worker-owner unity and build a smart Bangladesh). To mark the day, Chattogram Divisional Labour Department and Directorate of Factory and Establishment Inspection arranged daylong programmes.
The programmes included rallies, decorating important city squares and thoroughfares with banners, posters and festoons inscribed with dignity and significant aspects of the day.
Chattogram Divisional Labor Office organized a colourful rally at 10 am today on the occasion of the day.
The rally started from Agrabad and ended at the city's Ruby Gate on Sunday.
Workers from different organizations, including leaders of various labour organizations in the city participated in the rally.
Local newspapers published special articles while Chattogram centres of Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television aired special programmes highlighting the importance of the day.
Jatiya Sramik League also organized a discussion meeting at the city's Bangabandhu Hall of Chattogram press club this afternoon.
Chattogram Press Club, Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ), jointly organized a discussion meeting at Engineer Abdul Khaleque Auditorium at 11 am today.
City Mayor Reazaul Karim Chowdhury addressed the function as the chief guest.
Entrepreneurs, representatives of trade union organizations and government officials took part in the discussion.
Chattogram Newspaper Hawkers League, Chattogram Newspaper Hawkers Union (CNHU), Newspaper Computer Operators Association (CNCOA) and Chattogram Newspaper Employees Union (CNEU) organized a rally in front of the Chattogram Press Club and brought out a procession in the city this morning.
Bangladesh Communist Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Jatiya Sramik League Chattogram Divisional Coordination Unit, Bangladesh Trade Union Federation, Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Federation and Chattogram Auto-Rickshaw Auto-Tempoo Sramik Union organized daylong programmes marking the day.