Staff Correspondent BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday urged everyone, regardless of their political affiliations, to initiate a new movement aimed at reclaiming the people`s rights and eliminating widespread corruption. Speaking at a rally in Nayapaltan, the BNP leader criticized the government`s economic policies. "The government has established a reign of looting by destroying banks and all other economic institutions and capturing all businesses. They have grabbed all the businesses of people belonging to the opposition parties, even in the rural areas,” he said. Addressing the crowd before the rally, the BNP leader highlighted the need for unity among people from various sectors to restore their rights. "We must all come together. On this May Day, I urge all political parties and ideological organizations, particularly workers` unions, to be united...let’s wage a movement to achieve our desired goal of getting back our voting and democratic rights and the rights of people. This should be our pledge on this May Day,” he said. The rally, organized by the Bangladesh Jatioatabadi Shramik Dal, an associate body of the BNP, was held to mark May Day. Fakhrul also accused the government of attempting to impose a one-party rule, diverging from past methods. “A unilateral governance system is being established in the country. Their tactics are different this time. They do not want to establish Baksal now passing a bill in the parliament as before. They want to do it by destroying all democratic institutions under the guise of democracy.” He reaffirmed the opposition’s commitment to democracy and expressed determination to continue the struggle. "We must always remember one thing, that we have never been defeated in the past, and we will not be defeated in the future as well. Our goal is to establish democracy and restore the voting rights of people in Bangladesh. We are ready to make more sacrifices to this end,” he added. The BNP leader lamented that May Day is being observed at a time when the hardworking people of Bangladesh are bereft of their basic rights under what he termed a “demonic regime.” The rally started in the afternoon with cultural performances on a makeshift stage built with trucks in front of the party`s headquarters, energizing leaders and workers despite the high temperatures. As the event unfolded, traffic in the Nayapaltan area slowed, with one side of the road closed. Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists had gathered since noon, arriving in small processions to participate in the rally.

Staff Correspondent Detained Milton Samadder, founder of the charity organization "Child and Old Age Care", will be interrogated regarding allegations of irregularities against the organization. Dhaka Metropolitan Police`s Detective Branch (DB) chief Additional Commissioner Harun-or-Rashid said this to journalists during a press briefing at the DB office hours after detaining Milton on Wednesday. Milton`s detention follows a storm of criticism and discussion triggered by an April investigative report published in a daily newspaper. "Several media interviews quote Milton Samadder claiming he has an unauthorized operation theatre (OT). We will quiz him on why he set up an OT without any license and proper authorization," said Harun. He further said: "Particularly, there are allegations against him involving human trafficking and the sale of organs of children and the elderly. We will investigate these allegations seriously. We will also examine whether the donations he received were properly utilized, and look into the complaints of abuse by the guardians of children and the elderly who were under the care of his shelter home." Regarding the claim that he conducted 900 burials and forged doctor`s signatures on death certificates, Harun said: "We will investigate these allegations in detail." The DB chief added: "We have received numerous complaints against Milton. He claimed to have two ashrams. In his Savar ashram, he said there were 500 to 700 people, but we found only 20 to 30 people there. We have brought him in, and some complainants will file cases. We will interrogate him on remand to determine how many people went to him for treatment and how many died. We will also investigate whether he was involved in selling kidneys through the operation theatre in his ashram." A team of DB detained Milton Samadder from Mirpur area in the capital. He was detained around 7:30pm. The process to file case against Milton is underway, said the DB chief. On April 25, various fraud allegations against Milton Samaddar surfaced in a national daily. It was reported that more than 16 mobile banking numbers and three bank accounts received about Tk10,00,000 monthly. Many people also donated directly to his institution. According to allegations, he misused these funds. Allegations include the illegal trade of human organs, specifically pointing to the cutting and selling of kidneys. The revelations led to individuals speaking out and a flurry of discussions on social media, culminating in Samadder`s detainment. Milton Samaddar has also received three national awards for his humanitarian work.

The historic May Day will be observed on Tuesday in Bangladesh and elsewhere across the world in a befitting manner. The day has been observed across the globe since 1886, commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA, for an eight-hour working day and upholding the rights of the working people. To press home their demands, working people had to sacrifice their valuable lives in tragic bomb attacks and police atrocities on May 1, 1886 and the following days. This year`s theme of the day is “Sramik-Malik Gorbo Desh, Smart Hobey Bangladesh”. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday issued separate messages on the eve of the historic May Day. They extended their greetings to all working people of the world, including Bangladesh, wishing success of all programs on the occasion. In his message, the president said that the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had fought for the rights of hard-working people throughout his life. Bangabandhu gave state recognition to the “May Day” after independence, the head of the state said, adding that he had declared May Day a public holiday. Bangabandhu set up a wage commission to ensure fair rights of the workers and he also announced a new salary structure for the workers, Shahabuddin said. In 1972, under the initiative and strong leadership of Father of Nation, Bangladesh became a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and ratified 29 conventions, including six core conventions of the ILO, he said. Through the positive and progressive participation of workers and employers, stability and productivity in the labour sector will be enhanced, he hoped. The underlying significance of the Great May Day is closely connected with the rights, interests and welfare of the working people, Shahabuddin mentioned. He hoped that everyone will take responsibility in their respective fields to improve their living standards and protect their rights. There is no alternative to ensuring the overall rights including improved working environment, good labour-employer relations, professional safety and well-being of workers in building a developed and smart Bangladesh by 2041, Shahabuddin added. In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formulated a labour policy in 1972 with the aim of establishing a society free from exploitation. He strengthened the country`s economy and ensured the fair rights of the workers by nationalizing the abandoned mills, the premier said. The present Awami League-led government is implementing various activities for the development and welfare of the working people of the country, she said. Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been enacted by updating and modernizing the Bangladesh Labour Act to ensure safe working environment, social security and workers` welfare by maintaining goodwill and good relations between employers and workers, the premier added. Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation has been formed to ensure the welfare of workers working in different sectors of the country, Sheikh Hasina continued. She believed that all workers and employers will maintain good relations and devote themselves to increase national production being imbued with the ideals of the great May Day. "We will build a developed and prosperous Sonar Bangladesh as dreamt by the father of the nation by ensuring the welfare of the working people and the overall development of the country," she added. Both the president and the premier wished all programs undertaken on the occasion of the “Great May Day-2024” a success. On the occasion of the Great May Day, various organizations, including the ruling party Awami League have taken elabourate programs on Tuesday. The programs include holding workers` rallies, processions, discussions, seminars and cultural functions. National newspapers will publish special supplements marking the day. Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels will broadcast special programmes and talk shows. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has organized a discussion meeting at Bangabandhu International Conference Center here at 11am on Tuesday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the event as the chief guest. State Minister of Labour and Employment Nazrul Islam Chowdhury will preside over it. Jatiya Sramik League will organize a workers` rally in front of the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue here at 3pm on Tuesday. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will attend it as the chief guest.

Staff Correspondent Another three-day heat alert has been issued as a severe heatwave continues to sweep over 11 regions of Bangladesh, raising the temperature by 1°C to 2°C in most places, including the capital Dhaka. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Sunday said there is no chance of rain anywhere in the country except Sylhet on Monday and Tuesday. From Saturday 6pm to Sunday 3pm, the highest temperature in the country was 42.2°C, in Jessore. The other regions experiencing temperatures above 40°C are - Rajshahi experienced 42°C on Sunday after it was 41.5 on Saturday; in Chuadanga the mercury dropped slightly to 41.8°C after it was 42.7 on Saturday; in Ishwardi the temperature dropped to 41.3°C, after on Saturday it was 41.5°C. The temperature rose as high as 41.1°C in Satkhira on Sunday compared to 39.4°C on Saturday. It was 40.8°C in Kumarkhali and Mongla on Sunday. In Gopalganj the highest temperature was 40.6°C on Sunday after it was 38.2°C on Saturday. Tangail saw 40.3°C temperature on Sunday after it was 36.6°C on Saturday, Faridpur 40.2°C after 38.4°C and Khulna 40°C after 39°C. Besides, Dhaka`s highest temperature was 39°C on Sunday after 37.4 degrees on Saturday. According to a 24-hour forecast by met office, two places in Chittagong and Sylhet divisions may experience rain with gusts or stormy winds or rain with thunder. Along with that, there may be scattered rain with hails in some places. Elsewhere in the country, the weather will remain mainly dry with partly cloudy skies. Regarding the heatwave, it is said a very intense heatwave is flowing across Chuadanga and an intense heatwave is affecting Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Jessore and Kushtia. A mild to moderate heatwave is prevailing over the rest of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and Dhaka and Barisal divisions including Dinajpur, Rangamati, Chandpur, Feni and Bandarban districts. Day and night temperatures may remain almost unchanged across the country. Excess humidity may cause discomfort.

Staff Correspondent The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed concerns that fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army near Bangladesh`s Teknaf border could escalate by May. This could potentially lead to an increase in attempts by members of Myanmar`s Rohingya community and the Border Guard Police (BGP) to cross into Bangladesh, as stated in a report presented during the committee`s meeting on Sunday. The report also highlights several other significant issues regarding the Bangladesh-Myanmar border situation. These include the need to address the influx of illegal entries by Myanmar nationals; security along vulnerable land and sea borders between the two countries; preventing the unlawful smuggling of rations meant for Rohingyas; and the potential risk of criminal groups acquiring firearms and using them within Bangladesh due to the availability of weapons during border conflicts.