Thousands of workers, carrying red, green and yellow banners, assembled at Purana Paltan, Motijheel, Bangabandhu Avenue, Muktangon and Mirpur in the morning and then took out processions demanding minimum wages on the basis of market prices, safety at workplaces and putting an end to repression.

May Day, also known as International Workers Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, USA, at the height of a prolonged fight for eight-hour workday.

Trade unions, transport and garments associations and political parties also held rallies and brought out processions in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

Labour ministry took out a procession from Motijheel led by LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan while Jatiya Sramik League held a big rally at Mirpur, addressed by opposition leader Sheikh Hasina.

Jatiya Party, CPB, Workers Party, Jamaat, Bangladesh Apparel Workers' Federation, National Garment Workers' Federation and other organisations held separate rallies in the city to mark the day.

President. Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages, extending their support to the cause of the working class.

The day was a public holiday.