Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that if the workers are deprived of their fair dues, even if he is an internationally renowned person, he will not be exempted.

The Prime Minister said these words at a discussion meeting organized by the Ministry of Labor and Employment on the occasion of the Great May Day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Sherebangla Nagar of the capital on Wednesday (April 30).

Urging the owners to look after the interests of the workers without showing them luxury, the head of government said, "If someone deprives the workers, whoever he is, even if he is internationally renowned, we will not leave him, we will not leave him." Workers have to pay their dues, they have to see.

Noting that the Awami League has increased the wages of workers every time it came to power, Sheikh Hasina said that the goal of the Awami League is to change the fate of the working people. The government wants to develop skilled manpower. It is the duty of Awami League to look after the welfare of the workers.

She said, we have taken measures to ensure that the factories do not close down. Like many developed countries in the world, women in our country get equal wages. In our time the number of women workers has increased to 43.1 percent. Girls can work anywhere. We have created that opportunity.

She also said that besides giving incentives to the owners during the Covid pandemic, we sent money directly to the mobile phones of the workers through Bangladesh Bank.

Sheikh Hasina said that in the name of agitation, BNP has killed common people including workers by burning buses, trucks and workers. We have provided assistance to every affected worker-employer. I think it is the responsibility of Awami League to see the welfare of workers. Welfare of people is our endeavor.

Shahinoor, a resident of Pirer Bagh in the capital, brings home Tk. 12,000 a month by working 8-5 every day. Husband also works. But the income of two people does not support a family of five. Shahinoor is really struggling. After calculating the rent and paying the related bills, she found herself empty-handed before stepping towards the market. This middle-aged woman sent her three daughters to school. But one girl has already dropped out of school. This is the life of a garment worker.

Along with the pace of economy in the garment sector, the livelihood of the workers in this sector has not kept pace in the past. It still not getting it. Last year, the government fixed the minimum wage of garment workers at 12,000 taka which was earlier 8 thousand taka. It was expected that some relief would come from this salary increase, but due to the increase in commodity prices, that relief did not come. Shahinoor's burning proof.

Almost six lakh people migrate to Dhaka city every year with the dream of success in life in search of livelihood and hope to change their fate. Among the large number of people who came to Dhaka, most of the lower class, lower middle class are settled in various garment factories of the capital. These people who have come from the village are giving their labor in the garment factory for a small income to get rid of poverty. But their fate did not change.

Many people work for a monthly salary of 12-13 thousand taka for 8-9 hours a day. However, with this small income, the families of garment workers are struggling to make ends meet due to the rise in the prices of daily necessities.

House rent, household expenses, how is the life of clothing workers? This reporter of Barta24.com tried to find out about this. On Thursday (April 25), it was learned about their condition after talking to the workers of some garment factories in Mirpur area of the capital.

Shahinoor Begum, a garment worker in a Mirpur Sheorapara factory, lives in Pirer Bagh area. She told Barta 24.com, "My husband's income alone doesn't support the family. So I went to work myself. But even that doesn't work. I go at 8 in the morning and come back at 5 in the afternoon. I get 12.5 thousand taka a month. After the broken bed, all I get is house rent, current bill. ,ends up paying the water bill."

"I have three daughters. No son. I cannot pay for their education. I have stopped one daughter's education," said Shahinoor.

Shahinoor blames the increase in commodity prices for this sad state of fate. She said, two people work to survive after eating a little. I can't even move in this city with three girls. That's unfortunate."

Another garment worker Alauddin came from Bhandaria police station in Pirojpur district in search of livelihood and joined a garment factory in the capital. Iron Man's work is his there. Monthly salary is 12000 taka.

There is a lot of pressure at work. There is no chance of the clock going around. If the specified work is not done within the time, the job will be lost. Alauddin told Barta24.com, "Because of lack of education, I couldn't go far. When I couldn't do anything in the village, I came to Dhaka city. I got a job as an iron man in a garment. It is very difficult to work in this summer. There is nothing to do. I live in a mess in Sheorapara. Eat- I spend 7-8 thousand taka a month on my own.

"My mother says to start a family, get married. I say I can't go by myself, what I should do with my wife!"

Rozina, another garment worker, said, "Earlier it was 8000 taka, now it is 12000 taka. But in this age, but in this time can't survive on this money. The price of fish and meat in the market is burning. Broiler chicken is also around 250 taka per kg. My husband's daily income is always spent. . Maya has grown up, how I get her married no savings.’

Readymade Garment industry is a major sector of Bangladesh's export earnings. The country's foreign exchange reserves are heavy by buying cheap labor in this economic driving force. And the owner's fortunes are increasing. But despite working tirelessly day after day, the workers do not see the face of happiness. As much as the income increases, it all comes to an end due to the shock of rising commodity prices in the market. So there is little change in the lives of workers in the garment sector.

The morning light has just begun to shine. In the meantime, the sidewalk in front of the modern Chalk Super Market of Chattogram City's Chalk Bazaar is filled with people. They are 200-250 in number. Their identity is workers, more specifically, day laborers. Some are construction workers, some do furniture work, some move household goods.

As soon as someone came, the group of workers ran around from their seats, and kept shouting tirelessly, 'Brother/Sir buys me...!' This is the picture of last Monday morning, two days before May Day. But not only this day, have people sat in this market to sell every day. This has been going on for at least 50 years.

At home there are six boys and girls and me and my wife. At this time, you can understand the hardships of a family of eight. So I came here before dawn in the hope of being sold.'-Abdur Rahim suddenly stopped while speaking. The middle-aged man's mouth did not come out even if he asked the question 'then'. There is a lump in the throat. After a while, he started saying with damp eyes, 'If I don't sell, the wife and children won't have enough rice in their stomachs. So come every day no matter how bad the body is. Sometimes I get regular work, sometimes I don't.

While talking, a man came and wanted to take Abdur Rahim for construction work. At the end of the bargain, a happy smile is on the face as soon as it is 'sold'. Before leaving, he said, "Today there is no more tension about rice for boys and girls."

Seventy-something Abul Kasem came here hoping to be 'sold' for 35 years. No matter how old he is, this old man is always trying to show he is strong. When asked to know the secret of hiding age, Kasem laughed. He began to say, "If you say you are too old, who will work?" He will say that he will not be able to do any work at this old age. So I try to make myself healthy. Kasem said in the local language of Bhola that he is also a construction worker.

Kasem, a resident of Borhanuddin, Bhola, has been staying with his family in Chattogram city for many years. Although he has been working very well all these years, now he is sick most of the time due to his old age. But still he has to leave home every morning for work. For working from 9 am to 6 pm, sometimes I get 700 taka, sometimes 800 taka.

Mohammad Ismail of Bhairab of Kishoreganj, who is very young, has been coming here for 5-6 years and looking for work. When asked if he knows about May Day, he said, "I know, but what will happen if I know?" I have to work that day too. What will you eat if you don't work?'

Another laborer named Saiful Islam took the words from Ismail's mouth and started saying, 'If there is no rice in the stomach, what will happen by celebrating the day? Everything is so expensive. What we eat, how we eat - no one takes notice. It can be seen again that after renting for 1000 taka, at the end of the day, they suddenly take out the carpentry and give 700-800 taka. Cheat us in any way he can. Everything has to be tolerated with a closed mouth.'-This worker who carries bricks and sand opened the window of the sad story after getting an audience.

As time progresses, the crowd start to decrease because the sold workers started going to work. But the wait for at least 50 workers is not over. A little while ago, the watchmen announced together that the time is now 9 o'clock. Seeing that, the sweat on the forehead of the forty-year-old Hafiz seemed to be rising. He stood like others to be 'sold'. While waiting it was 10 am but remained unsold like many others. By glancing at the clock once, Hafiz understood the writing on his forehead. What else to do Hafiz started walking with the basket full of bricks and sand on his back? But Hafiz made one last attempt on his way back. Called 'new friend' Abdul Khalek. Khalek was sold in front of him. Hafiz met him every day while standing at this unannounced market of 'people selling'. Do you need more people where you work? Talk to them if you like. I am willing to work even if the wages are low. Hafiz told Khalek sadly. Khalek spoke on the other side and answered Hafiz.

To find out what answer he gave, it is better not to talk to Hafiz. Everything is written in his dirty face!!

Dhaka: Hot sun overhead. Body wet with sweat. Sweat drops like pearls on old face. The sweat is falling on the ground in drops from cheek-spit with breaks. Such is the intensity of the sun; Open your eyes and look! A simple watcher standing with a smile on her face in such hostility of the weather! If you see her, you will think that she is saying 'I will not carry the wheel of exploitation on my shoulders / This is the fight, this is the fight.

This simple-looking woman standing on the banks of the Turag, defying the fierceness of the sun is a day laborer. She works in loading and unloading sand on the banks of Turag river near Amin Bazar Landing Station in Dhaka. She labors all day in the scorching heat, in return for a meager wage on her forehead. They are called working people those who lack in the family. Two days there was no good food. To remove the lack of family, she worked hard.

International Workers' Day is celebrated on May 1 to protect the rights of such working people. The day is also known as May Day. This day of international labor movement and realization of labor rights has been celebrated globally for years. About 80 countries of the world observe May Day and national holidays in honor of workers.

Before the 19th century, factory workers had to work 10 to 12 hours a day. In some cases more than that. But the pay was low in proportion to the work which was not suitable for their lifestyle. At one stage the workers started getting angry. In 1884, a group of workers in the city of Chicago in the United States demanded that the employers set an eight-hour working day. The workers set May 1, 1886 as the time to fulfill this demand. But the factory owners did not listen to the demands of the workers. As a result, on May 4, 1886, the workers started a movement again at the Hay Market in Chicago. There, 10 to 12 workers were killed when the police opened fire on the protesting workers.

Two years after this event, in 1889, the First Congress of the Second International, held in Paris on the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, proposed that Chicago Labor Day be observed from 1890. The proposal was formally adopted at the Second Congress held the following year. Later, in 1904, the International Conference of Socialists held in Amsterdam, Netherlands called on all socialist democratic parties and labor unions to organize marches and processions on the first day of May worldwide to demand an eight-hour daily working time and to establish peace. In response to this call, almost all the labor unions of the world decided not to do compulsory work on May 1. Workers in many countries demanded that May 1 be observed as a public holiday. May Day is celebrated as an official holiday in various countries. Gradually, the significance of this day spread in different parts of the world including Russia, China, Bangladesh and India. Establishments around the world demand workers to work eight hours a day.

May Day was celebrated in the camps of freedom fighters during the Great Liberation War in 1971 out of respect for the rights and demands of the workers. May Day got national recognition after independence. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1972 on the occasion of the great May Day, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared May Day as National Day in his address to the nation. Since then May Day is celebrated with due dignity.

But May Day is just another day for the workers. Many people are not aware of this because even on this day they have to go out in search of livelihood. Otherwise, two handfuls of rice will not be collected. Family members will starve. So for those for whom it is Labor Day, this day has no significance. For low-income workers, work is religion, work is work. Therefore, the same statement in the mouth of the workers, including the sand workers, 'All our days are equal. If you work, you don't get money, if you don't, you don't get any money. We don't even have holidays for this. Need to work. If you don't work, the family won't work.

The society and the government should come forward to wake up the working people. The hands of the workers must be strengthened by resisting the ugliness that income inequality has taken within the country. Then evil forces like injustice, torture, terrorism and communalism will be countered. Through this, the May Day wish will also be fulfilled. In anticipation of that day, everyone will tune in with Kazi Nazrul Islam – Jago anashano bandire joto / Jagater lanchito Bhagyahata! / Jata otyachae aji vajra hani' / Hanke -jana-mon-mathita bani, / Nava Janam lovi' abhinav dharani / Ore oi agata/Adi srinkhal Sanatan Shastra-Achar/Mool Sarbanesher, Ere Bhanib Aber!/Vedi' Daitya-Kara/Ai Sarbahara!/ Keu rahibena ar por pada-nata.