DHAKA: Detective police arrested six women garment workers, including their leaders, on charge of their involvement in the July 30 labour rioting in the capital’s Tejgaon-Gulshan area.

The suspects are Sahnaj alias Sanu, Asma Begum, Parul, Sahnaj Begum, Rupa and Parvin. All of them are workers of Floret Fashion Wears (pvt) located in Tejgaon industrial area.

They were picked up from different parts of Tejgaon industrial area Sunday in a raid led by assistant police commissioner of DB Md Obaidul Haq, a press conference was told on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, police also arrested another suspect, Kaji Mohammad Shahidul Islam, from Tongi industrial area Monday on the same charge, DC (north) Md Mahbubur Rahman of DB told journalists at the press conference at its head office.

Two cases were filed against the six female workers with Tejgaon and Gulshan thanas in connection with the July 30 labour unrest.

The accused were identified “by browsing video footage and newspaper photographs,” said police sources.

Of the arrested persons, labour leaders Sanu, Asma and Parul alleged joined the rampage in the areas on the day.

The RMG violence sparked off a day after the government announced a new wage scale with minimum Tk 3,000 monthly payment for the garment sector on July 29.

The garment workers have been on movement to press their demand for Tk 5,000 as the minimum wage with effect from August.

BDST: 1433 HRS, AUG 9 2010