Dhaka, May 1 -- As the nation marks International Workers' Day with rallies, speeches, and symbolic celebrations, millions of Bangladesh's day labourers continue to live in harsh conditions, deprived of the very rights the day is meant to uphold.
Despite decades of promises, policy pledges, and labor law reforms, the lives of informal and unskilled workers-ranging from rickshaw pullers and construction workers to farmhands and domestic aides-remain largely unchanged. They endure long hours, unsafe work environments, and meagre daily wages, often without contracts, healthcare, or social protection.
In the capital's Karwan Bazar, 45-year-old construction worker Abdul Karim starts his day before dawn, hoping to be picked for work. "May Day c...