Dozens of garment workers fall ill at Gazipur factory sparking safety concerns
Photo Collected
More than 50 garment workers fell suddenly ill Tuesday morning at a factory in the Teparibari area of Sreepur, Gazipur, prompting an urgent medical response and raising alarms over workplace safety conditions. The incident at Color & Co. Ltd. began around 10 a.m. when employees in the fifth-floor sewing department reported acute symptoms, including dizziness, severe abdominal pain, nausea, and general physical weakness.
As the symptoms spread rapidly across various departments, panic broke out among the workforce. Factory management facilitated the transport of the affected individuals to local medical facilities, including Al-Hera Hospital in Mawona Chowrasta. While hospital staff confirmed that most patients were treated for their symptoms, at least seven individuals required transfer to other facilities for advanced medical care. Approximately 30 workers have since been discharged.
Local police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was reported. Sreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shahinur Alam stated that authorities are investigating the situation, while factory management opted to declare a holiday for the remainder of the day to manage the crisis. Neither the factory leadership nor hospital officials have provided a formal explanation regarding the cause of the mass illness.
The incident has reignited concerns regarding the facility’s safety standards among the workforce. Many employees noted that this is not the first health-related crisis at the site; on June 24, a 36-year-old female worker named Liza Akter died while working the night shift, an event that triggered widespread protests and road blockades by laborers the following day.
Workers like sewing operator Md. Habib described the chaotic scene as colleagues collapsed on the factory floor, prompting immediate calls for help. Another employee, Ashik Nur, expressed deep frustration over the recurring health scares, emphasizing that despite previous tragedies and grievances raised by the staff, the working environment remains hazardous. The investigation into what triggered the sudden illness is ongoing.
0%
0%
0%
0%
