‘We want election right now’: Sramik Dal at May Day rally

The BNP’s labour group is expected to present a 12-point list of demands in the rally

Workers from the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Shramik Dal, or Nationalist Labour Party, have rallied to demand the national polls be held “immediately” during a May Day gathering.

The BNP’s labour affiliate held a rally in front of the party office in Naya Paltan to commemorate May Day on Thursday.

The programme began with the recitation of the Quran at 2:10pm. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to deliver a speech addressing the crowd virtually from London.

Thousands of leaders and supporters of the labour group attended the rally, stretching from Fakirapool to Kakrail intersection as voices shouting “May Day is calling, down with discrimination” filled the air.

Donning red T-shirts with red caps, the attendees also chanted slogans like “workers of the world, unite and fight” and “we want a parliamentary election right now, they must be held”.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rahul Kabir Rizvi had said on Wednesday that the organisation would present a 12-point list of demands at the rally.

He said that the charter of demands would include immediate parliamentary elections, the trial of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, establishment of daycare centres in all institutions, reopening of closed industries, building new industries, creation of permanent positions by stopping outsourcing, free and democratic trade union rights, trial of worker murders, stopping torture of workers, ensuring maternity protection for women workers, national minimum wage of Tk 30,000, declaration of a non-discriminatory national pay scale and wage rate, repeal of all black laws, and reduction in the prices of daily commodities including food.

Artists of the Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS), or Nationalist Social Cultural Organisation, performed patriotic songs on the stage at 10am.