September 18, 2026

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Where work continues, even on ‘May Day’

“May Day” commemorates a day when workers achieve their rights. Many labour organisations hold programmes on the day. But many working-class people still have to work on the public holiday, toiling away to try and earn a living.

A labourer sweats in the hot summer sun in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. She has to work even on the day when the world celebrates workers’ rights. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
A labourer sweats in the hot summer sun in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. She has to work even on the day when the world celebrates workers’ rights. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Labourers unload sand using large bowls from a freight vessel in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Even on May Day, these workers must earn a livelihood. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Labourers unload sand using large bowls from a freight vessel in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Even on May Day, these workers must earn a livelihood. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Sand workers are paid a daily wage according to how many loads of sand they can carry. For each load they carry off the freight vessels, they are paid between Tk 2.5-3. Their work continues from dawn to dusk every day, even on May Day – the public holiday that celebrates workers’ rights. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Sand workers are paid a daily wage according to how many loads of sand they can carry. For each load they carry off the freight vessels, they are paid between Tk 2.5-3. Their work continues from dawn to dusk every day, even on May Day – the public holiday that celebrates workers’ rights. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Labourers unload sand using large bowls from a freight vessel in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Even on May Day, these workers must earn a livelihood. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Labourers unload sand using large bowls from a freight vessel in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Even on May Day, these workers must earn a livelihood. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Sand workers are paid a daily wage according to how many loads of sand they can carry. For each load they carry off the freight vessels, they are paid between Tk 2.5-3. Their work continues from dawn to dusk every day, even on May Day – the public holiday that celebrates workers’ rights. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Sand workers are paid a daily wage according to how many loads of sand they can carry. For each load they carry off the freight vessels, they are paid between Tk 2.5-3. Their work continues from dawn to dusk every day, even on May Day – the public holiday that celebrates workers’ rights. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Though May Day is a public holiday, many day labourers still have to work to earn a living in the Turag River area in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. To most of them, May Day has little material meaning. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Though May Day is a public holiday, many day labourers still have to work to earn a living in the Turag River area in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. To most of them, May Day has little material meaning. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Though May Day is a public holiday, many day labourers still have to work to earn a living in the Turag River area in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. To most of them, May Day has little material meaning. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Though May Day is a public holiday, many day labourers still have to work to earn a living in the Turag River area in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. To most of them, May Day has little material meaning. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Even as people avoid going outside to protect themselves from the summer sun, these labourers have to toil away in the heat, even on May Day. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Even as people avoid going outside to protect themselves from the summer sun, these labourers have to toil away in the heat, even on May Day. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Labourers unload bricks from a freight vessel in the Turag River in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Labourers unload bricks from a freight vessel in the Turag River in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
A labourer gets Tk 1,100 if they unload 1,000 bricks from freight vessels in the Turag River in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
A labourer gets Tk 1,100 if they unload 1,000 bricks from freight vessels in the Turag River in Dhaka’s Gabtoli. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Women break down bricks on the banks of the Buriganga River in the Munshikhola area of Dhaka’s Shyampur, even on the public holiday of May Day. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Women break down bricks on the banks of the Buriganga River in the Munshikhola area of Dhaka’s Shyampur, even on the public holiday of May Day. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Day labourers often do not know about the May Day public holiday. They work over 10 hours a day to earn around Tk 12,000 a month. They have to keep working on the holiday to try and eke out a living. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Day labourers often do not know about the May Day public holiday. They work over 10 hours a day to earn around Tk 12,000 a month. They have to keep working on the holiday to try and eke out a living. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Day labourers often do not know about the May Day public holiday. They work over 10 hours a day to earn around Tk 12,000 a month. They have to keep working on the holiday to try and eke out a living. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Day labourers often do not know about the May Day public holiday. They work over 10 hours a day to earn around Tk 12,000 a month. They have to keep working on the holiday to try and eke out a living. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

bdnews24.com

Published : 01 May 2025, 06:28 PM

Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 05:51 PM

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