Manzur addresses May Day Rally

Working Class has been betrayed.

Manzurul Ahsan Khan a veteran trade union leader and President of Communist Party of Bangladesh, speaking at a huge May day rally said that working class of Bangladesh has been betrayed, deceived and continue to be ruthlessly exploited and deprived of fundamental trade union and human rights.

Worker of Fulbari Upozilla under the district Dinajpur organized huge procession in the morning of 1st May and paraded the streets of the town culminating in the Shahid Minar where a huge public meeting was organized. The meeting was addressed by leaders of workers of Barapukuria Coal Mine, power plant, hotel, restaurant and transport workers etc. leaders of peasant, agricultural worker, students, youth and women organizations, also spoke in solidarity.

Manzur said on the very May Day the workers of Bangladesh has been deceived. It has become a holiday for the rich. Though it is a government holiday since 1972, after independence majority of workers in Bangladesh do not get a paid holiday on this occasion. But the President, ministers, all civil and military officers enjoy paid holiday on this day stained by the blood of the working people.

Manzur mentioned that in 1886 during the Mayday struggle the main demand was 8 hour duty. Almost a century and a quarter have passed but most of the workers are compelled to work for 12, 14 or 16 hours a day despite laws forbidding work exceeding 8 hours. Many workers do not get weekly medical or earned leave according to law. The new government is busy in enhancing the ways and benefits for ministers, MP’s and civil and military officers but the workers demand for a living wage, wage-commission, minimum wage board and dearness allowance have been ignored. Despite Laws worker are deprived of trade-union rights. Job-security and safety at work places.

Manzur called upon the workers to build up strong and united trade union movement for defending their rights and development. He said according to election the newly pledge elected government has failed to reopen a single factory closed down due to W.B. prescription. In reality more factories have been closed down. CPB President said that people of Fulbaria had to sacrifice life of several friends to compel the Government. To commit that open pit coal mining which will displace hundred thousand people will not be allowed. He said 38 years of independent Bangladesh has proved that the bourgeoisie has failed to ensure democracy, development and peoples’ well being.

Manzur said history demand that the workers and toiling masses of Bangladesh take up the reins of the country. Toiling people must rise to the occasion and prepare itself for the accomplishment of this historical task. Failure of working people, communist and left democratic forces will pave the path for an extremist fascist take over.