Working people are the main support of the country: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said, ‘Working people are the main support for the development, prosperity and progress of any country. Industry, agriculture, infrastructure and a prosperous economy are built on the relentless hard work of workers.’

Friday (May 1) is the Great May Day. He said these things in a message on the occasion of National Occupational Health and Safety Day 2026 on Thursday (April 30).

This year's theme for International Workers' Day is - 'Healthy workers, hardworking hands, a new dawn will come'. The Great May Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh along with all countries of the world, keeping in mind the underlying motivation of this theme.

In the message, the Prime Minister said, ‘On the occasion of Great May Day and National Occupational Health and Safety Day-2026, I extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to all the working people of the world, including Bangladesh. On this day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all the working brothers and sisters of Bangladesh working at home and abroad who are engaged in work for their livelihood, and above all for the development of the country.

Paying tribute to the fallen workers and workers of Chicago, he said, "I remember with deep respect all those who gave their lives in the Hay Market of Chicago, America, in May 1886, while demanding the fair rights of workers including an 8-hour working day, and all the working people in countries around the world who have been killed in the struggle to establish their rights."

Working people are the mainstay of any country's development, prosperity and progress. Industry, agriculture, infrastructure and a prosperous economy are built on the relentless efforts of workers. Therefore, improving their standard of living, ensuring fair rights, creating a safe working environment and establishing social dignity are the main commitments of the current democratic government.

I believe that it is possible to ensure positive changes in the lives of working people through labor-friendly policies, employment expansion and welfare initiatives.’

Describing President Ziaur Rahman’s contribution to workers, Tarique Rahman said, ‘Martyr President Ziaur Rahman, the great independence proclaimer of Bangladesh, believed that the two hands of the workers are the key to the prosperity and development of the state and society. Thinking about the welfare of the workers and working people, Shaheed Zia took various groundbreaking steps. The policies and reforms he introduced have strengthened the foundation of labor welfare. Martyr President Ziaur Rahman created labor markets abroad, especially in the Middle East.

Those expatriate workers are currently one of the foundations of Bangladesh's economy.'

Noting that the BNP government has always taken special initiatives for the welfare of the working people, he said, 'The BNP government has taken appropriate programs to improve the fate of the working society in Bangladesh by reforming and modernizing the labor law in the country, forming a salary and wage commission, determining the minimum wage of garment workers, implementing it and taking measures to pay their bonuses, forming a workers' welfare foundation, and taking special measures for the treatment and education of the children of garment workers. The garment industry has the largest number of workers in our country. The contribution of martyred President Ziaur Rahman to this industry is unforgettable. The country is moving towards increasing progress today for the welfare of garment workers.’

He said, ‘In continuation of the government of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Late Begum Khaleda Zia, it is the responsibility and priority of the current government to uphold the fair rights of workers and ensure the political, economic and social security of the working people by creating a safe working environment.’

Noting that Bangladesh has signed a total of 39 conventions and one protocol of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Prime Minister said, ‘The Bangladesh government is determined to maintain close and cordial relations with the International Labor Organization. The current government is committed to improving the living standards of workers. To that end, the current government ensured timely payment of salaries, bonuses and other benefits to all workers in the country during the past Eid-ul-Fitr. The current democratic government is striving to continue the same trend in the future as well. The government is also determined to ensure fair wages for workers and equal wages for men and women by regularly reviewing wages. The government has taken the initiative to introduce expatriate cards to ensure various benefits including economic security for expatriate workers.’

The Prime Minister also said, ‘I believe that only if the safety, dignity and welfare of workers are ensured, it will be possible to build a prosperous, self-reliant, democratic, humane Bangladesh. Through joint efforts and mutual cooperation, we will be able to build the desired Bangladesh, InshaAllah.’

At this time, he wished for the overall success of all the programs undertaken on the occasion of the Great May Day and National Occupational Health and Safety Day-2026.