May 1 is celebrated internationally as the Great Workers Day. The day is observed worldwide as a day for workers' rights. Even though the day has been celebrated for the last 138 years, how much do the workers know about their rights or how aware are they?
Ilyas Mia drives a rickshaw in the capital's Mirpur. One son, one daughter and wife live in Baganbari slum. Even if you can survive on any kind of dal and rice with the income from driving rickshaws, you cannot afford to educate your children. Therefore, despite the desire, he stopped his son's school to curb the additional expenses. He married a young girl.
Ilyas doesn't know what May Day is. When asked about this day, his simple answer was - 'What will happen with these days, uncle? I work, I get thirst for it, I don't have any mercy. If I don't go to work today, I won't be able to eat. What do we have to do with these? I will take care of my own stomach, my own family. If you don't work, no one will give you food or water.'
Driving a rickshaw is also a work, in that case you get proper evaluation through your work, Ilyas said to this reporter of Barta24.com, 'None behaves with us well, we work like machine, we work , you pay even you do not show kindness when we carry in this scorching heat. Everyone, young and old, does it. But I have a family; I need to eat, so I need to work. No matter what one uses, there is no way but to work.'
Shyamal Das sews shoes in front of Mirpur Shah Ali Plaza. Although he used to work in other jobs, he started sewing shoes six months ago. When asked how life is going in the job of sewing shoes, he said, 'The whole day's work does not go well. The income is not bad, but the prices of goods are also increasing. I have a little problem for this, but I am fine by God's grace.
When asked if he knew anything about May Day, he shook his head and answered 'no'. A mysterious silence descends on the face, a mocking smile on the face in response to the question whether he gets the dignity he deserves by working as a shoemaker. That smile seems to tell how much respect he deserves and how much he gets.
A severe heat wave is going on in the country. People's life is in a state of panic in such a fiery heat. However, these workers do not even have time to stop and feel relief. So keeping the heat alert aside, he is going out on the streets every day with the urge of action. I am going to work to collect food for the next day. Otherwise, the family will starve the next day.
Sufia Khatun works in a garment factory in Sheorapara. She got married at a young age because her parents could not afford it. After marriage, the garment worker joined the work herself as her husband's income alone did not support the family. The family somehow runs on the income of the two.
When Sufia Khatun was asked about May Day, she told Barta24.com, "Yes, I am hearing about Labor Day today." Today is a factory holiday for this reason. When asked if she knows anything about this day, she said, "I don't know anything more than that."
In response to the question of what is the proper evaluation of your work as a garment worker, she said, "You have to work to fill your stomach." There is no other way. No one will bring home food anymore. But I don't get money compared to the hard work. If I can't eat properly by renting a house, then what is the wage? Earlier, I used to work in another garment, suddenly it was closed without paying any salary. Now I entering here again. This is how it goes.
This reporter of Barta24.com talked to about 18-20 such workers across the capital. But most of them could not tell what Labor Day is, why this day is observed. But some said they don't know much more than that even after hearing about Labor Day.
On May Day, the working people of this city went out to work with the hot sun on their heads. After work in the evening or at night, if you return home with food materials, only then will the fire in the stove burn. Therefore, there is no day for them, but a tin can on the head and rice in the stomach is like a daily, every-night wish. So whether it is winter, summer or monsoon, they never stop running.