More than 100 workers at a garment factory in Gazipur fell ill on Sunday after reportedly drinking water at the Reaz Export Apparels Ltd in the city’s Signboard area. Following the incident, factory authorities declared a holiday for the day to address the situation.
According to authorities, the affected workers began experiencing stomach issues around 11 am after consuming water provided at the factory. The workers were quickly taken to a nearby private hospital, where some received initial treatment and were discharged, while others were admitted for further care.
Gazipur Industrial Police-2 Superintendent AKM Johirul Islam stated that the incident was caused by waterborne disease, likely linked to the water consumed at the factory. Gachha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ali Mohammad Rashed confirmed that drinking water at the factory was responsible for the workers’ illnesses.
Ferdous Chowdhury, an administrative officer at Reaz Export Apparels Ltd, told The Business Standard that the factory maintains strict hygiene protocols. He added, “The workers said they got sick after drinking water, but we have followed all safety measures.”
This comes after two similar incidents, one where over 100 workers fell ill at another Gazipur factory and one where over 200 workers fell ill in a Gazipur factory.
Most of the affected workers are reportedly recovering, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the contamination. The factory has temporarily closed for the day to ensure safety and conduct thorough inspections.
