Pay rise for low-income employees and workers

May 1, 1972

BANGABANDHU'S MAY DAY SPEECH

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today speaks to the nation on the occasion of the historic May Day. He declares that the salaries of low-income employees and workers will be raised. Under this new scheme, all employees and workers of government, semi-government and statutory institutions and industries whose income is below Tk 349 will receive economic aid. The government will reform the payment structure to reduce income inequality, he informs.

Bangabandhu urges the workers and peasants to devote themselves to building a socialist economy in Bangladesh. He speaks in detail about various initiatives that his government has taken so far to achieve socialism. He highlights the nationalisation of industries and termination of the repressive lease system. The government has also given loan waivers extensively to farmers, and they are also enjoying waivers of land tax up to 25 bighas, says Bangabandhu.

The prime minister says that his government is aware of the poor economic condition of the people. The government is trying its best to improve the situation within the earliest possible time, he assures. Bangabandhu solemnly pledges to rebuild and reconstruct a free Bangladesh and assures that fruits of independence will be reaped and enjoyed by 75 million people of Bangladesh, and not merely by a handful of opportunists. He further says that anybody trying to sabotage his government's socialist programme will be firmly dealt with.

FULL RATIONING WILL BE INTROUCED

Food Minister Phanibhushan Majumdar today declares that the government will implement full rationing system to address shortages of food and other basic necessities. He expresses his satisfaction over the current stock of food items in the country. The government has also increased surveillance at the border to stop smuggling of food items into India, the minister informs.

IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH MIDDLE EAST

Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad today says that the attitude of the Middle Eastern countries towards Bangladesh has improved significantly. He refers to the recent decision taken by several Middle Eastern nations to allow around 20,000 Bangladeshis to leave for their home country or to continue to work in those countries. It is reported that a large number of Bangalees have been stranded and confined in various countries of the Middle East at the insistence of the Pakistan government. The Bangalees who had gone to the Middle East before the liberation of Bangladesh on Pakistani passports have been put under confinement.

SOURCES: May 2, 1972 issues of Ittefaq, The Bangladesh Observer, Azad, Morning News, Dainik Bangla and Purbodesh.