Dhaka, May 1: On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep concern over the current state of Bangladesh. She stated that the progress made in the country’s industrial and agricultural sectors over the past fifteen years has been severely impacted since August 5, 2024.
Hasina accused the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of implementing “retaliatory actions” that led to the closure of thousands of factories, including those in the garment sector. This turmoil resulted in 2.1 million workers losing their jobs within a year.
The Awami League shared Hasina’s statement on their social media platform X, highlighting her remarks: “It pains me to say that the momentum we built in industry and agriculture over the past fifteen years has come to a halt since August 5, 2024. Due to the retaliatory actions of the Yunus government, thousands of factories, including those in the garment industry, have shut down. By September 2025, 3 million people fell below the poverty line. This trend of crisis continues.”
International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is celebrated worldwide to honor the historical movements and courage of workers who fought for their rights.
Addressing the people of Bangladesh, Hasina reminded them of the sacrifices made by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in securing the rights of the oppressed and working class. She noted that following his ideals, the Awami League government has initiated several measures to improve workers’ living standards and welfare during its tenure.
She referenced various laws, including the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2018, the National Labour Policy 2012 to ensure social respect for workers, the National Child Labour Elimination Policy 2010, the National Occupational Health and Safety Policy 2013, the Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015, and the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy 2015.
Hasina asserted that these initiatives have contributed to establishing Bangladesh as a stable and emerging economy on the global stage. She warned that the economic crisis initiated during the previous interim government still persists, stating, “No country can progress by shutting down industries, eliminating jobs, and weakening farmers.”
On this historic day, she reminded everyone that the Awami League has always stood for the rights, interests, and welfare of workers. “We will certainly overcome this difficult period and bring Bangladesh’s economy back on the path of development,” she concluded.
Leave a Comment