Over 200 garment workers fall ill after drinking water at Gazipur factory

More than 200 workers of a garment factory fell ill this morning (18 June) after drinking water supplied by the factory in the Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur.

The incident occurred around 10am at Dressman Garments Limited, located in the Chandra area of Kaliakair upazila.

The workers were rushed to the Kaliakair Upazila Health Complex and several clinics for emergency treatment.

Kaliakair Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sadia Tasnim Munmun said patients began arriving at the hospital in large numbers from around 10:30am.

"So many workers were brought to the hospital that we are struggling to accommodate them. As patients continue to arrive one after another, our doctors are providing treatment to everyone with the utmost priority and within our capacity," she said.

According to hospitalised workers and eyewitnesses, the employees entered the factory in the morning and started their duties as usual. At one stage, several workers drank water from the factory's internal supply lines.

Shortly after, a few workers on the fourth floor of the building began experiencing severe physical discomfort, dizziness, and vomiting, with some even fainting.

Within an hour, similar symptoms rapidly spread among workers across other floors of the factory. Most of the affected workers were women.

Several workers, including Zahid, Majedul and Tanni Akter, said they had consumed water from the factory's regular supply, as they do every day. However, soon after drinking the water, workers started losing consciousness and becoming sick one after another.

As the situation worsened, factory authorities and fellow workers rushed the affected employees to Kaliakair Upazila Health Complex and several nearby private clinics. Some workers also received primary treatment inside the factory premises.