The historic May Day was observed in the country like elsewhere in the world on Friday with a fresh call to establish the rights of workers and free them from exploitation.

Tens of thousands of working people of the country along with rest of the world joined street rallies and other activities to raise their voices for ensuring their rights and upholding spirit of the May Day.

Worker groups and trade unions, political parties, different government and socio-cultural and professional organizations arranged different programmes to observe the day with the theme 'Let us forge worker-owner unity and build a Sonar Bangla.'

The programmes included seminars, discussions meetings, colorful rallies and cultural functions from where the participants called for upholding labour rights and ensuring workplace safety.

The day is observed across the world every year since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifice of workers at the Hay Market in the United States to establish the rights of eight-hour working day and uphold the rights of working class.

On the eve of the day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had issued separate messages greeting the toiling messes.

They extended their sincere greetings to all working people of the world including Bangladesh.

The Labour and Employment Ministry drew an elaborate programme to observe the May Day at the state level.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the day's programs at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the afternoon.

A colorful rally was brought out from in front of Shrama Bhaban at RAJUK Avenue in the morning and it ended at Jatiya Press Club (JPC) after parading Dainik Bangla More and Paltan. State Minister for Labour and Employment Ministry Md Mujibul Haq Chunnu led the rally.

Shrama Bhaban, Bangabandhu International Conference Center, different streets and islands of the capital were decorated with banners, festoons and placards to mark the day.

The day was a public holiday.