May Day: History, Date & Significance

May Day, International Workers' Day, is 1 May. It goes back to the Haymarket movement of 1886 in Chicago and stands for the rights and struggles of workers everywhere. Labour organisations across Bangladesh hold rallies and day-long programmes, and the day is a public holiday.

May Day 2027: Date

English Date
Saturday, May 1, 2027
Bengali Date
18 Boishakh 1434
Hijri Date
23 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1448 AH
Days Left
207 days

History of May Day

May Day remembers the Haymarket movement of 1886 in Chicago, when workers striking for an eight-hour day were met with violence. Those who died in that struggle became the symbol of the international labour movement. In 1889 the Second International declared 1 May International Workers' Day, and it is now observed in most countries of the world.

Bangladesh has observed May Day as a public holiday since independence. The day carries particular weight in a country whose economy runs on the labour of millions of workers, in garment factories, jute mills, construction and transport. It is marked by rallies, seminars and renewed calls for workers' rights and safety.

How May Day Is Celebrated

  • Rallies and processions by trade unions and labor organizations
  • Seminars and discussions on workers’ rights, wages, and workplace safety
  • Government programs and messages honoring the contribution of workers
  • Cultural events and songs of the labor movement
  • Special coverage and supplements in newspapers and media

May Day Dates for the Next 5 Years

YearDateDayBengali Date
2027*May 1, 2027Saturday18 Boishakh 1434
2028*May 1, 2028Monday18 Boishakh 1435
2029*May 1, 2029Tuesday18 Boishakh 1436
2030*May 1, 2030Wednesday18 Boishakh 1437
2031*May 1, 2031Thursday18 Boishakh 1438

* Dates for coming years are calculated and may change when the government announces its holiday list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Holidays