May Day — History, Date & Significance

May Day commemorates the Haymarket movement of 1886 in Chicago, when workers striking for an eight-hour workday were met with violence — the martyrs of that struggle became the symbol of the international labor movement. In 1889 the Second International declared May 1 as International Workers’ Day, and it is now observed in most countries of the world.

Bangladesh has observed May Day as a public holiday since independence. The day carries particular weight in a country whose economy is powered by millions of workers — from the ready-made garment industry to jute mills, construction, and transport — and it is marked by rallies, seminars, and renewed calls for workers’ rights and safety.