Building construction workers holding a rally to observe May-Day on
Wednesday mourned the recent Savar tragedy demanded enforcement of
building construction code with complete insurance and opening separate wing for speedy rescue and salvage operation
management in building collapse incidents.They pressed six-point demands for immediate enlistment and issuing identity
cards, separate pay commission,, health and accident and insurance, round the
year permanent employment or unemployment allowance, free health and education
facilities for their children, residential accommodation for floating workers,
price control of essentials items and implementation of rationing system.
The speakers of the program also called
implementation of ILO charter and building construction code with compulsion
for accident insurance as well as rehabilitation of the accident victims and
set up of modernized rescue, recovery management.
Barisal city and district Imarat Nirman
Sramik Union (INSU/ building construction workers union) was held in
front of Barisal
Aswani Kumar Hall was presided over by M A Jalil, president of Barisal district
INSU and addressed among others by A K Azad, central committee member and
district secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra,, Rustam Ali, divisional
president, Abdur Razak, district secretary, Nigar Sultana Hanufa, and other
leaders of INSU.
They said their demands were in accordance with the charter announced
by the International Labour Organization and accepted by Bangladesh
government. Victim’s support and rehabilitation facilities for the
victimized construction workers, earthquake and landslide management
by disaster management ministry, construction companies and
contractors, also urged by the construction workers.
Gouripur Correspondent reports: The May Day was observed in
Gouripur Upazila of Mymensingh district in a befitting manner on
Wednesday with heavy hearts in the
backdrop of hundreds of workers losing life in apparel factory
collapse at Savar.
May Day commemorates the 1886 workers uprising at Hay market in
Chicago for their legitimate rights including eight-hour working day.
Several agitating workers were killed.
Political parties, trade unions and labour organizations in Gouripur upazila
took programmes to celebrate the day. Ruling Awami League and opposition BNP
upazila and poura unit held different programmes to celebrate the day and
others took elaborate programmes to mark the day. People from all walks of life
and activists of political, cultural and professional organisations,
institutions and. clubs brought out a procession in the town of Gouripur.
Captain (Retd.) Dr. Mojibur Rahman Fakir,MP, State Minister for Health and
Family Welfare, was as chief guest in the rally.
Bogra Correspondent writess: The historic May Day observed was Wednesday
in Bogra as elsewhere across the world with a pledge to establish the rights of
workers. The May Day, also known as International Workers’ Solidarity
Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago,
USA, at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday.
This year the theme of the day is ‘Safe Workplace, Bangladesh will
move forward’.
Trade unions and professional groups have
taken up various programmes to observe the day to press for improving the
working conditions with better wages for the workers and job security.
The Labour and Employment Association brought out colourful rallies at
the morning in the district town.
Different discussion meetings held in the town all
day-long.Journalist Unions arranged separate discussion meeting
marking the Day at Bogra Press Club in the morning.
All journalists’ leaders demand the rights to workplace safety.
BSS from Gaibandha adds: The historic May Day was observed in the
district on Wednesday paying rich tribute to the deceased of Savar
tragedy along with a fresh vow to establish the fundamental rights of
working class.
The district administration, labour office, political parties and
different sramik organizations chalked out elaborate programmes to
observe the day.
The programmes included hoisting of national, organizational and red
flags atop the offices of trade unions and labor organizations,
wearing of black badges, staging of dramas and cultural function
marking the day.
In the morning, a big rally led by deputy commissioner (DC)
Dr Quazi Anwarul Haque and superintendent of police (SP) AKM Nahidul Islam was
brought out from Gaibandha Poura Park and ended at the same venue after
parading the main streets of the town.
Inaugurating the rally DC Dr Haque said the spirit of the
May Day would further strengthen the efforts of welfare and progresses of the
workers and also help them ensure their just rights in the working places.
Later, a discussion meeting organized by district Sramik
Federation was held on the premises of Shahid Minar at around 10 am with
convener of May Day Observance Committee-2013 Rezaunnabi Razu in the chair.
A large number of workers and their leaders attended the
meeting.
