DHAKA, April 30, 2023 (BSS) - Bangabandhu Parishad today, in a statement on the eve of May Day (Labour Day), wished further improvement of the living standard of the country's working and professional people in line with the thoughts of Bangabandhu. 

"Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stood by all the exploited people across the world, including Bangladesh, throughout his life... It is the wish of Bangabandhu Parishad on the May Day that the living standard of all working and professional people in Bangladesh would improve and their rights would be protected further following the path shown by Bangabandhu," said the statement of the Parishad.

Bangabandhu Parishad President (acting) Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique and General Secretary Professor ABM Faruque issued the statement jointly, marking the May Day to be observed across the world tomorrow.

Referring to the background of declaring May 1 as Historic May Day in 1986, they said under the auspicious initiative of Bangabandhu, Bangladesh got the membership of International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1972 just after the country's independence. 

The Bangabandhu government ratified all the 29 conventions including six core convention of the ILO, the statement said. 

The day is being observed across the globe since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA for eight-hour work day and upholding the rights of the working people.

To press home their demands, working people had to sacrifice their lives in tragic bomb attacks and police atrocities on May 1, 1886. In 1889, the International Socialist Conference declared that in commemoration of the Haymarket affair, and to pay respect to the innocent victims, 1 May would be an international holiday for labour, now known in many places as International Workers' Day.

 Since then, May Day is observed as a holiday all around the globe.