The Blood-Stained Saga of May Day: An Unending Narrative of Inequality
Atik Shariar Siam
May 1st—a date, a protest, a solemn vow. This international day, dedicated to the establishment of workers' rights, continues to remind us of that blood-red history wherein humanity fought, and lives were sacrificed, seeking liberation from the abyss of exploitation. The clarion call that echoed through Chicago's Haymarket Square in 1886 still reverberates today, carried on the smoke-filled air of Bangladesh's garment factories and amidst the mist-shrouded dawns of Sylhet's tea gardens.
The tumultuous wave of the anti-discrimination student movement that swept across Bangladesh in July 2024 marked a new juncture in our national political history. From campuses to thoroughfares, from processions to podiums, the slogan 'Down with Discrimination' resounded. Yet, the question lingers: Has this 'July Revolution' truly managed to dismantle the centuries of accumulated deprivation endured by the working class?
The answer, unequivocally, is no. Amidst the clamor of relentless capitalism, the silent weeping of the laborer dissolves into the ether.
Consider the portrait of anguish among the workers in Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector. On the global stage, Bangladesh's RMG industry remains a shining economic beacon. Yet, behind this luminescence lies a stark reality wherein the worker's body is treated as a mere commodity, and their perspiration translates solely into profit margins. When 112 souls perished, incinerated in the Tazreen Fashions fire of 2012, or when 1,134 lives were entombed beneath the debris of the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, the grim visage of our societal structure was laid bare. These were not mere accidents; they were catastrophic failures of policy and ethical oversight.
In the aftermath of the Rana Plaza tragedy, spurred by international pressure and a stirring of national conscience, the 'Worker Safety and Reform Commission' was established, proposing a comprehensive reform package. Its recommendations encompassed enhancing factory infrastructure, securing health insurance for workers, accelerating the pace of minimum wage increases, and eliminating barriers to trade union formation. Furthermore, several initiatives emerged, notably the European buyers' coalition 'Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh' and the North American buyers' 'Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.' Subsequently, the domestic entity 'RMG Sustainability Council (RSC)' assumed these responsibilities.
These initiatives also put forth numerous recommendations, chief among them being: guaranteeing structural, fire, and electrical safety within factories, providing comprehensive safety training for workers, establishing dedicated safety committees, and ensuring the rehabilitation and compensation of affected laborers.
But the critical question remains: Have these initiatives truly eradicated the pervasive deprivation afflicting the lives of garment workers? The answer offers little solace.
While visible strides have been made in safety protocols, a just wage remains an elusive aspiration for the workforce. The cost of living escalates, yet wages lag disproportionately behind. The right to unionize, though enshrined in law, faces numerous practical impediments. Allegations of harassment targeting labor leaders, the perpetuation of a climate of fear within factories, and the curtailment of collective bargaining power surface with alarming regularity. Crushing workloads, excessive overtime, inadequate maternity leave and benefits combine to render workers' lives arduous. Many injured in workplace incidents still await comprehensive rehabilitation and adequate compensation. Significant gaps persist in the full implementation of recommendations and the rigorous enforcement of labor laws.
Thus, even as we stand in May 2025, it is evident that the majority of these recommendations remain unimplemented or have been selectively disregarded. Consequently, preceding festivals like Eid, workers are still compelled to take to the streets, demanding their rightful salaries and bonuses, forced to navigate the ever-present threat of police batons and arrests. And we are painfully reminded of Anjuara, Russel, Imran, and Jamal Uddin – lives tragically lost during the 2023 labor movement advocating for wage increments.
Meanwhile, the plight of tea workers is often conveniently obscured by the 'capitalist agents' of our 'civilized' society, lost amidst the fragrant steam rising from diverse brands of tea. It is as though a life shackled by centuries of invisible servitude is their preordained fate. The approximately 150,000 laborers in Bangladesh's tea industry remain ensnared in a reality that echoes, and perhaps even surpasses, the hardships of the colonial era. Though their 2022 strike demanding a daily wage of 300 Taka garnered national attention, they currently receive, on average, a mere 170-200 Taka. Dire deficiencies in education, healthcare, and housing, coupled with a system of quasi-servitude perpetuated under the guise of a 'colony culture' patronized by estate owners, combine to cast a long shadow over their lives. The question, 'You relish your cup of tea, but does the tea worker ever cross your mind?' can still be posed, unequivocally.
The mass movement spearheaded by the youth that surged across the nation in July 2024 represented a historic response to the pervasive landscape of societal inequality and exploitation. While this movement catalyzed political reforms, shifts in educational policy, and a burgeoning collective social consciousness, the fundamental dignity of the working class remains largely unestablished. Perhaps the singular reason is this: the economy thrives on the spilled blood of the laborer, yet their anguish is muffled by the conspiratorial silence of state and corporate alliances. This reality echoes the timeless, inexorable words of Karl Marx: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." And within this struggle, the exploited working class remains perpetually disenfranchised by the dominance of the exploiting class.
Our Impending Responsibility and Resolve:
May Day beckons us to view the worker not merely as an instrument of production, but as a fellow human being. Establishing dedicated 'Worker Wage Commissions' for both garment and tea sectors, guaranteeing access to adequate housing and healthcare, rigorously enforcing laws that protect the right to unionize, and holding employers accountable – these must form the bedrock of our renewed commitment.
International Workers' Day, therefore, is not merely a commemoration of the past; it is an interrogation of the present and a preparation for the future. In a society built upon the sweat of the laborer, if that laborer is denied their just rights, the very essence of May Day is rendered meaningless. May a genuine smile grace the faces of Bangladesh's workers – let this be our singular aspiration this May Day.
The writer is a student, Department of International Relations, University of Rajshahi
