The great young lady from Chattogram is synonymous with courage, patriotism and selfless service to the motherland. Pritilata Waddedar was one of the first ladies of the British Indian colony who threw away their image as soft hearted, behind the curtain, homemaker and fought hand in hand with their male comrades in arms. This part of the anti-British colonial struggle was named Agnijug (time of fiery struggle). Being frustrated about the outcome of peaceful movements by the political parties, a section of the British Indian youth resorted to armed struggle to drive the colonial British administration out of their motherland. Bengal and Punjab were the two parts of the subcontinent that saw highest concentration of such revolutionary youth though chivalrous youth from other provinces of the British colony also joined such activities.

British ships hit the Indian shores during the Mughal era. They came as traders under the banner of British East India Company and achieved the first nod to do business from Emperor Jahangir. The Europeans knew India as a wealthy place and all the colonisers have set their feet on the Indian soil to have a slice of the cake. Apart from the British, the French, Dutch, Danish and Portuguese were also interested in India. During the zenith of the Mughal Empire, India used to be home to 25% of the world's wealth. Arabs and even some Africans were also frequent visitors to India. They came as real business people.

The European powers realised that they would be able to drain the Indian wealth and resources to their homes better and unhindered if they could gain the administrative power of the region. By the beginning of the 1700s the mighty Mughal Empire became weak and the Maratha Empire rose. Together with that smaller sovereigns also sprang up. They fought against each other to gain supremacy. Attacks from Persia, Central Asia and Afghanistan weakened India. Mughal governors of different areas started defying the Delhi throne and started ruling the area under their jurisdiction as sovereigns. The Europeans having better armaments took the chance of gaining strength by supporting this side or the other in their fight for supremacy. By then, the British had outsmarted the other Europeans and were the sole European power mongers in the subcontinent. Slowly they started taking over control of the lands where they won against the incumbent rulers. It started in the middle of the eighteenth century and within a century, they took control over the whole Indian subcontinent. Burma and Ceylone followed.

Thence started the massive exploitation of the wealthy land. When the British had to leave the subcontinent, the Indo-Pak subcontinent was left with only 3℅ of the world's wealth. Estimates show that the British colonisers have siphoned USD 45 trillion in present currency out of the Indian subcontinent during two centuries of their colonial subjugation. The Indians were no fools. They knew exactly what was happening and tried to raise their voice against all exploitation. In1886 Indian National Congress was formed and it started political campaign against colonial exploitation. The British administration used carrot and stick policy and played all tricks to subdue all movements against them. Whenever necessary they even played the religious card of divide and rule policy. In 1905 the Muslim League was formed as a political party to safeguard the interests of the Muslim population of the subcontinent.

Both Congress and Muslim League were conventional political parties and they kept trying to safeguard the interest of the Indian population by usual ways of raising demands, organising political agitations, engaging in negotiations with the administration, resorting to strikes, etc. The British rulers were in no mood to budge in. It seemed that there was no end to the colonial savage exploitation. Towards the beginning of the 1900s the youth of the subcontinent became restless. The aforesaid Agnijug started. We see examples of their armed activities in the Khudiram/Prafulla Chaki heroism in Mujaffarpur, Alipore Bomb case, Rodda Company episode, Kakori train attack, Bhagat Singh’s bravery, Calcutta Writer's Building attack by Binoy, Badal, Dinesh and finally the Chittagong Youth Rebellion.

The planners and executors of these revolutionary activities knew very well that by such actions the huge British colonial administration could not be uprooted. They risked their lives to execute such chivalrous feats to show to their compatriots that the British raj is not invincible. They can be unsettled. The patriots hoped that their actions would act as sparks to the existing fuel of anger of their countrymen on the inhuman oppressive regime. If such small fires can be ignited by armed actions in different parts of the country, gradually the fire will spread all over and drive the colonisers out.

The mastermind, planner and leading executor of the Chittagong Youth Rebellion was the great Masterda Surya Sen, one time secretary of Chittagong district Congress party. He had interactions with leaders of Agnijug, who worked under the banners of underground organisations Anushilan Samity and Jugantor, while Masterda was a degree student in Bahrampur College. Young Surjo Sen was greatly influenced by the thoughts of Agnijug stalwarts and took a vow to act accordingly. For that he needed time to prepare himself and build up a group of dedicated, determined and patriotic young people. He came back to his native Chittagong and took up teaching as his profession. His profession provided him the opportunity to come into close contact with youth. Together with Mathematics he taught them Patriotism too.

The subcontinent was already a fertile ground of revolution because of the colonial blood sucking policies of the British imperialist administration. It was a heap of gunpowder awaiting a spark. Masterda provided that spark. Patriotic youth were eager, to say the least, to jump into the band wagon of revolution. Masterda recruited the most reliable ones as he had to keep the whole activity secret. His formation of Chittagong Republican Army was of more than two hundred dedicated patriots. Besides, there were hundreds of sympathisers and aspirants to join the core group.

He, being the supreme commander, was inspired by the Irish Easter Rebellion. The D day was decided to be on 18 April 1930. A filtered group of 64 youth was selected from amongst the members of IRA. They were divided into sub groups to achieve the following tasks: To occupy the telegraph station and destroy all means of communication with Chittagong;
To damage a portion of the train line near Feni, so that Chittagong remains isolated from the rest of India; To occupy and take control of armoury of the Auxiliary Force; To attack Chittagong Club and kill and scare the whites assembled there and to occupy the Police Armoury and declare Independence.

Out of the five targets,the Chittagong Club attack was not executed as it was empty for Easter.

The plan was successfully implemented. Masterda, as the Supremo, was given a Guard of Honour by members of the IRA at the Police Hills in Dampara as Head of the Provisional government. All the British officers reportedly left their positions and took shelter in ships anchored in the Karnaphuli River. Chittagong remained free of British rule for four days. It was no mean achievement. It was proven that if struck with courage, the mighty colonisers can be taught a lesson. Of course the leader of the revolution knew that by this action alone they could not defeat the British and drive them away. He wanted to set an example.

After the initial victory, the IRA group retreated to the Jalalabad hills and on the third day the British armed forces attacked their position.Though they were hugely outnumbered by the enemy, the boys put up a gallant fight with their primitive (in comparison to the British) arms. When it was getting dark the enemy retreated carrying back their casualties. It is mentioned in some documents that they incurred a loss of 80 soldiers. The British side never revealed any true figure. 12 of the brave revolutionary youth laid down their lives fighting gallantly. When the enemy soldiers left, the martyrs were given a Guard of Honour before a makeshift arrangement of cremation. Then by order of Commander Masterda, the revolutionary team left Jalalabad hills to spread in the villages for the next phase of the struggle. It was a guerrilla operation of hit and run policy. Masterda and all the members of the IRA went underground to carry on with their patriotic deeds.

The story of Pritilata comes in here. She comes from a middle class family having homestead at Dengapara, Patiya. Her father shifted to Dhalghat for family convenience where Preetilata got her primary education. She was a meritorious student. Her father Jagabandhu Waddedar was working in the Chittagong municipality. He rented a house in Askerdighi area of Chittagong and shifted his family from Dhalghat.

Pritilata now was a student of Chittagong's famous Dr Khastagir's Girl's High School. Another renowned revolutionary Kalpana Dutta was also a student of this school. They learnt about the bravery and patriotism of Laxmi Bai, the queen of Jhansi, Begum Hazratmahal, Queen Padmini, Queen Karunavati, Joan of Arc and others from their teachers and from history books and publications. They were also aware of the anti-British colonialism movements and revolutionary activities in the subcontinent, Chittagong being one of the hotbeds. Both the girls drew inspiration from the historical figures like the Queen of Jhansi and wanted to participate in the armed struggle for independence. Till then, they were too young and the Chittagong revolutionary movement was not prepared to accept females in their ranks. The two spirited girls carried on with their studies keeping the desire of joining the movement sooner or later.

Pritilata passed matriculation, intermediate and degree examinations from Dr Khastagir's School, Dhaka Eden College and Calcutta Bethune College respectively with flying colours and returned to Chittagong only after the 1930 Armoury mutiny. All these years she was occupied with the idea of joining the revolutionary party of Masterda. While in Dhaka Eden College, she worked with Deepali Sangha which was an outfit of revolutionary Leela Nag, the first female graduate of Dhaka University and an associate of Netaji Subhash. While in Calcutta Preetilata, Kalpana and another revolutionary young lady of Chittagong origin Bina Das were associated in different degrees with Chattri Sangha, a girl's organisation to spread anti British revolutionary ideas.

Pritilata, while in Calcutta kept liaison with the Chittagong revolutionaries through her cousins Purnendu and Sukhendu Dastidar. Another cousin of hers Ardhendu Dastidar was one of the Martyrs of Jalalabad battle. She expressed her strong desire to join Masterda's group through this channel. But the time was not yet ripe. Instead she was given some responsibilities like carrying ammunition and revolutionary literature, meeting arrested revolutionaries in jail in disguise of their relatives and so on. Thus she had the opportunity to meet Ramkrishna Biswas in Alipore jail several times. Ramkrishna, belonging to the Chittagong revolutionary group, was awaiting execution by hanging for killing British police officers. She learnt many nuances of revolutionary struggle from Ramkrishna.

Finally in early 1932 Pritilata completed her BA degree with distinction from Calcutta University and returned to Chittagong. She took up the responsibility of Head Mistress of Chittagong Aparna Charan Girls' High School. Back in Chittagong, she started pursuing her case of entering the Revolutionary activities more vigorously. The guerrilla struggle phase of the movement was going on. Masterda, his deputies and all comrades were operating from underground. This time, the nod came. Masterda met her in a secret hideout and ushered her into the fold of the group. She became a proud member of Masterda's revolutionary group in June 1932. Their activities went on unabated.

Meanwhile, Masterda chalked out a plan to attack the Pahartali European Club to bring down this symbol of white supremacy. The club is said to have a board having the inscription " Natives and Dogs are prohibited" in those days.The day was fixed to be 23 September 1932. Pritilata was given the charge of a group of 15 young revolutionaries to carry out the attack. The group under the leadership of Pritilata made a lonely house in the Kattali area as their camp. They carried out firing practice in the sea shore near their Kattali camp and carried out a reconnaissance survey of the targeted club which was a few miles away.

On 23rd evening Pritilata selected eight male co-fighters for the attack. They dressed up suitably, carried their weapons and explosives and proceeded towards Pahartali. Preetilata herself was dressed as a Sikh youngman. By 10:30 in the night, they took up positions around the club, unnoticed so far. By 10:45pm a signal came from an associate, who was an employee of the club. The signal meant that it was the right time for the attack. The assembled British officers, all of whom were representing some or the other department of the administration, were tools of colonial exploitation and oppression, hence targets of the revolutionary activists. Pritilata blew her whistle urging her boys to attack. Explosives were hurled into the club premises driving the inmates into a stage of shock. Fire, smoke, explosions and gunfire turned the relaxing mood inside the club into horror. The British occupiers were panicked but understandably recovered after the initial shock. There were police officers and others too with training in guns. They started firing back. A gunfire ensued and there were many casualties amongst the British. Officially though, they have acknowledged one dead and eight injured. On the side of the revolutionaries, only their leader Preetilata was injured by a gunshot, albeit not fatal. All others were unhurt.

Pritilata ordered her boys to retreat after the successful operation. She decided to commit suicide with pottasium cyanide that she was carrying. She anticipated that she will be captured by the enemy since she was injured and can't escape the police chase that will begin. Her comrades would not leave her and wanted to carry her back. She gave strict orders to them to fall back which they had to comply with. She chose a quiet place nearby and consumed the cyanide. The firing from both sides ceased. The British did not venture out of the club premises in the darkness of night for fear of being attacked by hiding revolutionaries. As dawn broke, they found the dead body of a Sikh youngman lying nearby. On close observation, to their utter surprise, they discovered that it was a young lady. She had a suicide note which explained their objectives, a plan of the attack and some photographs. The post mortem report revealed that her bullet injury was minor. Cause of death was cyanide. The news of this attack struck the headlines all over India and beyond.

Pritilata became a beacon of bravery and patriotism amongst Indian women. She is still revered as an idol in Bangladesh and India. She was the Joan of Arc in British India. Her name is remembered by many organisations and still, the young ladies in Bangladesh and India draw inspiration from her brave acts.

We have halls after her name in universities, colleges, and schools both in India and Bangladesh. There are also roads, streets, squares named after her. There even are schools and colleges bearing her name. Her birthplace Dhalghat has raised a Trust in her name which carries out nation building activities throughout the year. A road in her birthplace has been named after her.

Pritilata Waddedar was born on 5 May 1911. We remember her with due respect on this day.

Long live Pritilata!
Long live her ideals!

Bhawal's poet Govinda Chandra Das was 6 years older than Kabiguru Rabindranath. The poet was exiled for the crime of taking pen against the king by abandoning royal favor. Govinda Chandra Das, who was exiled for the poetry book 'Mager Muluk', spent his life in severe financial hardship. Although he gifted Bengali literature with 10 priceless poetry books, the misery of this gifted poet's life was evident. At the end of his life, some noble people like Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das made some atonement for the apathetic society by helping the ailing poet financially. Fighting poverty, the oral poet expressed his regret of not being recognized during his lifetime in his poetry. Questioning the social state, he wrote in a poem, 'If I die, will you put the monastery on my pyre?'

This regret of the creators of art and literature has been echoing for ages. The latest incident is the suicide of Rabindra Sangeet artiste Sadi Mohammed. These incidents silently slapped our society and state. Our society and state have always failed to appreciate meritorious people in their lifetime. It is said that in a society where virtue is not valued, virtue is not born in that society. With the passage of time, we are gradually losing those geniuses that we can bow down to. Our lack of qualified people to fill that gap is constantly being felt.

The number of people who do not compromise with their personality and values is decreasing day by day. On the contrary, the staff and incompetent people are taking place. The huge vacuum created in society is endangering our traditional traditions. Scholars believe that this vacuum is the cause of the various questions that we are seeing in people's minds about the awarding of prestigious state medals and awards in recent times. Where many meritorious people suffer in silence, the pain of not being recognized, the incompetence of those concerned with the awarding of medals adds to the frustration of the meritorious.

In the midst of such a reality, Bangla Academy announced the Rabindra and Nazrul Award-2024 on April 30. Rabindra and Nazrul's efforts are unquestionable to the three geniuses who are being awarded this award. With this award introduced in the name of these two great poets, a symbol of Bengali nation's self-pride, this time the academy concerned have been able to raise their judgment above the question, it has spread optimism.

Professor Bhishmadev Chowdhury and Professor Laisa Ahmad Lisa are receiving the Rabindra Award 2024 for their contribution to the research of Rabindra-literature of Bangla Academy. On the other hand, Professor Razia Sultana is receiving the Nazrul Award 2024 for her research contribution to Bangla Academy Nazrul-Literature.

Eminent literary critic Bhishmadev Chowdhury is a professor in the Bengali Department of Dhaka University. Bengali novels, Rabindra short stories and the literature of Bangladesh are central subjects of his study and evaluation. Bhishmadev Chowdhury, the author of many research books, has two notable books on Rabindra research: Two-four Asrujal: Different Paths of Rabindra Golpo (2005) and Prabhas Surya: Rabindranath Sardashata Janmvarsh Swaran (ed. 2011).

Jagannath University Professor of Microbiology Department and renowned Rabindra Musician, teacher and general secretary of Chhaynat Sangeet Vidyatana Prof Laisa Ahmad Lisa dedicated Rabindranath research. She is trying to build a cultural movement by performing healthy music including Rabindranath's songs. Being closely associated with the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammelan Parishad, she is also playing a role in spreading the practice of pure music across the country.

Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, the beacon of Bengali heartbeat and spirit, was brought to Bangladesh with his family on 24 May 1972 with the permission of the Indian government. Researchers and writers of that time devoted themselves to the study of the silent poet in various perspectives and subjects. Those close to the poet were still alive, and anything needed as a reference book was not scarce. With the availability of information, with deep devotion and devotion, many academicians have tried to evaluate the poet in various ways.

Two eminent Professors of Bengali literature Mohammad Abdul Qayoum and Dr. Razia Sultana couple devoted themselves to Nazrul research. Although the number of books of these two talented researchers in Nazrul research is not huge, the few research books they wrote about the poet play a special role in Nazrul research in this country. That's why they are celebrated as pioneering researchers.

Mohammad Abdul Qayyum presented research on 'Nazrul in various contexts' and 'Nazrul reception and other contexts'. On the other hand, Razia Sultana's research books 'Kathashilpi Nazrul' and 'Nazrul-Anwesha'. Apart from these published collections of books, these two Nazrul researchers have created numerous Nazrul researchers and fans with devotion in their long teaching life; those who are carrying forward the practice of Nazrul in Bangladesh in later life. In recognition of the research Dr. Mohammad Abdul Qayyum and Dr. Razia Sultana-Both poets won the Nazrul Award initiated by the Nazrul Institute. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Qayyum won the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1991.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Quiyum passed away on June 12, 2020. After the death of her husband Dr. Razia Sultana spends time abroad with her children. On April 30, 2024, Bangla Academy announced the names of 3 people for the Academy Award for Rabindra and Nazrul research. Dr. Razia Sultana was nominated was nominated for the Nazrul award.

It is learned from the relatives that Dr. Razia Sultana has been suffering from various complications related to old age including memory loss. She learned the news of the award from a long distance. But despite this, she is very happy with this news!  The look of satisfaction on her face is evident, her daughters said. We are surely happy to know this news because a meritorious researcher is going to be awarded by a prestigious institution of the state for her research even though she is dying. Those concerned with Bangla Academy can certainly get thanks for this. But we also expect that why should a meritorious researcher wait until old age to get her research recognized? The question looms large today as to why we fail to reward an award while having the physical and mental impulse to celebrate it.

We know that many geniuses are still practicing their knowledge and art in secret without any desire for recognition. But when the state itself is dishonored by honoring the incompetent, then the virtuous like many others must be distressed. And not being able to bear the burden of this pain, even the eminent artists like Sadi Muhammad had to choose the path of self-immolation in silent pride. Those who run state institutions should remember that loyalty to power is not the only criterion for award nominations.

Writers who have been able to express the truth in writing without hesitation have a place in history. Syed Ghulam Hussain Khan Tabatbai, the history of the previous rulers during the British rule in favor of the Raj, the authentic historical book 'Siyar-ul-Mutakhkhirin' has proved to be a formal book in the later era. In dispassionate assessment of history, the so-called historian could not maintain his dignity. If we remember this historical reality and uphold the practice of contemporary knowledge and science, give value to real geniuses at the right time, only then will many geniuses be born in the country and we will be able to move forward on the path of building a knowledge-based society and state. Like the poet Govinda Das, we can change the character of the society by 'giving the monastery to the pyre after death'. 

The bloody history of the Great May Day is one of the glorious historical events of the 19th century. The event originated in the American city of Chicago but gradually its response spread worldwide. Historical records show that the May 1886 killings of workers and the bombing of protest rallies sparked worldwide condemnation for the next several decades. As a result, May 1 Day is recognized internationally. The protesters continued to campaign for their demands despite the killings and torture. In 1889, on the centenary of the French Revolution, the Second International Congress was held in Paris. Since 1890 there, Raymond Lavin proposed to observe the anniversary of the Chicago protest internationally in different countries. The proposal was formally adopted at the Second International Congress of 1891. Since May 1 was declared as Labor Day, the day has been celebrated by the working class in many countries.

May Day acquired a special significance after the socialist revolution in Russia and later in several other countries. Workers' rights were recognized with the establishment of the International Labor Organization as an important subsidiary arm of the United Nations. The ILO establishes a number of regulations and urges industrial owners and workers in all countries to comply with them, thus protecting the rights of workers and owners. Bangladesh is a signatory country to the principles formulated by the ILO. In 1915, the first 8-hour work day rule was issued in Uruguay. Later, the 8-hour work rule was introduced for workers all over the world. The May Day struggle demanded an eight-hour day, higher wages and better working conditions, etc. - now fully pursued in the developed world.

2. The country of the world, which once believed in the freedom of workers, is now living in fear and disorientation due to warlike behavior of Russia. Hundreds of countries in the world that celebrate May Day with great importance are also worried today. This internationally recognized day is also known as Labor Day or Workers Day. Many countries have a holiday on this day. May Day is a day to honor the memory of the workers who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for their demands. On this day, a worker dreams of a better life. Because May Day has given the whole world a society free from discrimination and exploitation. But war and political unrest spelled doom for working people. It is possible to co-operate with welfare systems in developed countries to protect against the impact of war.

On the other hand, developing countries are struggling to keep their hardworking people alive. For example, Bangladesh's 500,000 garment workers are urban (although only 15 percent of the country's workers are urban workers), there are also day-to-day laborers and a large poor population involved in agriculture. It is important to protect these low-income people from the crisis as well as to use them to keep the wheels of the country's economy moving. Moreover, the demand for working men and women in the medical service sector was very high during the Corona crisis. Along with doctors-nurses, hospital ward boys, nannies, cleaners have worked at risk to deal with Corona. In other words, the importance of working people in medical care at the critical moment was immense. From this point of view, this May Day carries a different significance. That's why the slogan of 2022 should be - 'The country will survive if the workers survive'.

3. The labor law of Bangladesh states that workers shall work six days a week, not exceeding eight hours per day. Two hours of overtime may be worked, but in no case more than that, i.e. in no case shall the working hours of a worker exceed 10 hours. The worker shall be paid double wages for these additional two hours. Under no circumstances can the mill authorities work overtime by force i.e. without the consent of the workers. It is an offense to force a worker to work 16/18 hours or not to pay double wages for overtime. In the labor law, the factory environment must be healthy and humane. Physical torture, abuse and sexual harassment should not be there. Violation of labor laws also provides for penalties.

It should be noted that the number of agricultural workers in Bangladesh is 2 crore 33 lakh, the number of workers employed in hotels, restaurants and shops is 82 lakh, and the number of factory workers is 75 lakh. Of these, 50 lakh workers work in garment factories. Among the 64 districts of the country, child laborers are also found in several districts. Besides, there are workers in roads and highways, construction, textile (yarn making and weaving), tannery, ship breaking, poultry and shrimp (processing), chatal (paddy mill), agriculture and fisheries. Shop workers and workers in vehicle repair factories are also important in the service sector. Stone quarrying and stone breaking and brick kiln workers in the construction sector are engaged in hazardous work. Many women workers work in inhuman conditions in this country. These women are seen in earth cutting and brick breaking, sawdust and fish processing industries. Again, the contribution of expatriate women workers to the remittances of this country is also recognized. Most women workers of Bangladesh went to 10 countries; There are about 9 lakh women workers in those countries.

According to the data of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training or BMET, the number of women workers who went abroad from Bangladesh from 1991 to 2019 is - Saudi Arabia - 332 thousand 204 people, Jordan - 155 thousand 411, United Arab Emirates - 130 thousand 571 , Lebanon - one hundred and six thousand 840, Oman - 86 thousand 132, Qatar - 32 thousand 259, Mauritius - 17 thousand 923, Kuwait - nine thousand 19, Malaysia six thousand 638 and four thousand 290 women workers in Bahrain. There are 6 crore workers in all in Bangladesh. The main problems of these workers are harassment, disappearances and accidental deaths. In the sea fisheries, working people are the most missing. Among the accidents, road accidents, electrocution, building collapses, falls from above, lightning, fires and explosions cause workers to die every year. On the other hand, about 1500 workers were killed in the garment sector in the 11 years from 2009 to 2019. However, since 2018, the non-fatalities of workers have decreased to a large extent. Unable to write, the families and children of the dead workers are left helpless, with no one to look after them. They cannot meet the minimum requirements for survival.

4. The labor situation in Bangladesh in the last 15 years is not satisfactory, but there are reasons to be optimistic. The efforts of the Awami League government, from child labor ban and implementation of the labor law to increasing the wages of garment workers and the system of paying fair dues to agricultural workers, are notable works. The United Nations body International Labor Organization (ILO) has already found that Bangladesh labor laws and EPZ laws are consistent, workers are not prevented from organizing, retrenchment of workers and police harassment are absent in the pursuit of demands. In addition there are proper provisions on labor inspection (inspection). This has been made possible mainly due to various initiatives to ensure the compliance of Accord, Alliance and other national and international organizations. That is, the awareness of labor standards and protection of workers has increased. But the resolution of the crisis is slow compared to that. For this, it is necessary to look at all sectors.

However, after the Rana Plaza accident in 2013, the change in the environment of garment factories under the initiative of Sheikh Hasina government is very clear to the workers working there. Earlier there was no training in garments to deal with disasters. Now several factories are conducting multiple trainings a year. The owner is conducting various awareness programs about what to do in case of fire, sometimes other things to do. There is no 'fussing' about salary and bonus as before. If the workers have any problem now they can also complain to the management. In fact, according to the demands of two alliances of foreign buyers, Accord and Alliance, fire safety, electrical safety, building safety, everything has to be kept in operation by following modern methods.

According to Bangabandhu's 'Unfinished Autobiography' and other works, before 1971 Pakistan was full of workers' walk in jute mills, textile mills and sugar mills. Even though these large industrial factories could not see the face of profit after independence, small and medium industries have been established in this country on a large scale. Workers in these new factories next to Garments are new to the labor market. And all together, the number of women workers is now large. But no labor colony was built around the garment factories. For example, colonies used to exist around jute mills or textile mills. Workers now live in urban slums, underdeveloped areas adjacent to factories. But once upon a time there was provision of accommodation colony, medical allowance etc. for the workers of jute and textile industry. However, the rent of the worker's house, medicine and medical expenses, the monthly wage of at least 8 thousand taka for a family of four has been fixed during the Sheikh Hasina government.

5. May 1 is the day of awakening of hardworking people against injustice and exploitation. It is a day of struggle to claim against injustice and oppression. It is also a day of unity - a day when all working people pledge to advance the cause of development by strengthening their bond of brotherhood. I believe that working people and hardworking people will be able to establish their rights by realizing all their just demands in future with inspiration from May 1. In a corona-free world, the contribution of the working people in the agriculture and export sectors will be remembered if the safety measures for the industrial working environment and health protection are maintained.

Author: Professor, Department of Bengali; Jagannath University

In the beginning of the world, labor was an unimportant matter. Slavery originated in the ancient Egyptian era, where people were held captive as slaves and forced to work against their will. It was building palaces by cutting mountains or building pyramids by placing stones on stones. Labor was axiomatic to power. In one observational sense, the word "slave" was the root word for labor. Human life is changing and evolving in the course of time. In the development of civilization, work is created as a result of necessity and invention of labor for that work. The whole world becomes labor-dependent. Two clans called owner-laborer emerged based on this labor.

One team needs work, another team also needs work. And from that the concept of selling labor was born. Long before the industrial revolution in the world, the valuation of human labor was cheap. Since the establishment of factories in Europe, the entire social system has largely become dependent on workers. But in the beginning this modern social system was not so worker friendly as it is today. Long working hours, low wages, the urge to over-produce in working hours, all together create two groups, the exploiters and the exploited all over the world. A worker means inhumane life. Colonial theory developed in consumerist society. The poor keep getting poorer. People are affected by hunger, famine and epidemics. The ruling clique started fighting to establish their empire. And these workers and poor class people become their targets.

World War I saw the emergence of a new concept of labor called war labor in Eastern Europe. The ruling class of the countries participating in the war would forcefully send men to the battlefield. For this they were paid a hefty salary. After the war, a different picture emerged across Eastern Europe. That is, Eastern Europe became largely male-free which hurt the whole social system. A kind of silent famine ensued. Women, children continued to leave other parts of Europe. Polygamy, monogamy and prostitution appeared among women. An obscenity filled the social system.

Labor history developed in late 19th century Europe through political movements aimed at securing the rights of the working class. Throughout Europe, the impact of labor rights began to spread worldwide through piecemeal labor protests, strikes and movements. Workers involved in the wool trade started the Luddites movement in Britain, which was considered one of the most talked about events in Britain at the time, centered on the penetration of modern machinery. Haymarket riots in America, Homestead strike, Pullman strike etc. contributed to the promotion of the labor rights movement. As a result, today we celebrate the great May Day.

Complaints of inhumane living and deprivation of citizens were common during the Russian Revolution. Workers joined this revolution in 1917 through labor unrest and riots. The success of the Russian Revolution came with the declaration of the solidarity of workers with people of all classes and professions and the formation of the Bolshevik (communism) government. From time to time, throughout the ages, from pagan to colonial, from colonial to modern, workers have been marginalized and oppressed. And so they fought to survive for centuries by raising the flag of their rights. The fortunes of workers in free market economies have improved somewhat. They get paid for their fixed working hours. He gets the benefits he deserves in the workplace. But the workers who benefit are from first world countries. Workers in third world countries are still neglected today. Labor unrest, death risk of workers due to various errors in the workplace, recession in the labor market, etc. are a daily occurrence in various third world countries including Bangladesh. The tendency of Bangladeshi workers to go abroad today is due to these reasons.

Even though the economic index in Bangladesh is on the upswing, we have not been able to claim ourselves as a worker-friendly country. It is our failure. And so we think of ourselves as the slaves of the workers. That's why the hardworking people like housekeepers, rickshaw pullers, janitors don't have any holiday on the great May day. They don't even know what this day is. Our social system has deprived them of their fair labor rights.

There is a dire message for workers in the world to come. Fourth Industrial Revolution (Four IRs). What is called in English, The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). A combination of the physical, digital and biological realms. Advances in information technology, the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence and quantum computing are considered by many to usher in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Many economists believe that the fourth industrial revolution will usher in a world of inequality and extreme poverty. Robots and machines will be factory workers. Low-skilled workers will be fired en masse. As a result, the economic condition of developing countries will be extremely disappointing. We want workers' rights, worker's independence. The sweat of the workers has gone from the jungle to the city. The towering skyscrapers has the touch of a worker's hand. So behind the development of the world is the sweat of millions of workers.

And so the best tool for the development of human civilization is the labor of this world. Everyone says, "Be one of the laborers of the world!"