Police have arrested three people including two labour leaders of another organization in connection with the murder of Shahidul Islam, president of the Gazipur branch of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF).
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mahbub-uz-Zaman confirmed the matter at a press briefing organized at Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) headquarters on Sunday afternoon.
The arrestees are Mazharul Islam, 35, Rasel Mandal, 32, and Hanif, 50.
Among them, Mazharul is the organizing secretary of Gazipur district branch of Bangladesh Workers Trade Union and Rasel is a worker of the same organization.
Deputy Commissioner Mahbub-uz-Zaman said that on June 25, there were protests among the workers of the Prince Jacquard Sweater Limited factory over the payment of Eid bonuses and arrears.
Labour leader Shahidul Islam, along with companions Mostafa, Sharif, and Akkas, visited the factory in the evening.
They had discussions with the workers regarding their demands and the issue of payment.
On their way back after the discussion, they were attacked and beaten up near the factory by the leaders and workers of the opposing labour organization.
In this violent confrontation, Shahidul Islam, along with four other labour leaders, were injured.
Local people rushed them to the hospital, where doctors declared Shahidul Islam dead.
On behalf of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, the organization's Central President Kalpana Akhter filed a murder case at Tongi West police station as a plaintiff.
In the case, six people, including Mazharul, have been named as defendants.
Among them, three accused were arrested in raids in different areas.
Labour leader Rasel was arrested from Trishal upazila of Mymensingh district on last Sunday.
The main accused in the case, Mazharul Islam, was arrested within 24 hours of the incident.
When Hanif, the sixth defendant in the case, was handed over to the court seeking remand on Sunday, the court granted a three-day remand.
However, none of the three arrested accused has admitted responsibility for the incident in the initial interrogation, said Mahbub-uz-Zaman.
The case is currently being investigated by the Industrial Police, he added.
