Over 15,000 workers of about 30 ship-breaking yards along the vast coastline at Shitalpur, Bhatiary and Kumira under Sitakunda upazila were forced to work for hours on the May Day, sources alleged.

Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), an NGO that works for the betterment of ship-breaking yard workers, formed a human chain and held a rally in front of the Chittagong Press Club on Tuesday to protest the incident of depriving the workers of their right to enjoy holiday on May Day.

Environmental activists, members of professional bodies, leaders of trade unions and some yard workers joined the programmes.

Speakers at the rally strongly criticised the owners of ship-breaking yards for their inhuman treatment of workers and for depriving the poor workers of overtime allowance, leave and public holidays.

"Unlike workers of other factories and industries, thousands of workers of ship-breaking yards have long been deprived of their fundamental rights recognised by the government and the United Nations," said Mohammad Ali Shahin, programme officer of YPSA, yesterday.

He said the May Day is recognised as a special day for the workers when they are at least supposed to enjoy day-off from their daily and routine hard work.

"But the workers even do not know about the importance of the day, let alone the right to enjoy holiday. And as usual, they were forced this year to work amid risks and hazardous environment," Shahin said.

Refuting the charges, Jafar Alam, former president of Bangladesh Ship-breakers Association, said that barring few 'emergency' cases, most yard owners keep their yards closed on the May Day and allow the workers to enjoy holiday.