OUR CORRESPONDENT, Gazipur

At least 65 workers of a ready-made garment factory in Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur fell ill after drinking water yesterday morning and were admitted to the Kaliakair Upazila Health Complex.

The incident took place at Dressmen Garments Ltd in the Chandra area.

According to hospitalised workers, they drank water shortly after starting work in the morning. Soon afterwards, several workers began experiencing dizziness, vomiting and weakness. Gradually, workers on other floors developed similar symptoms.

Some workers, requesting anonymity, said they noticed an unusual taste and smell in the water. Although they tried to alert the authorities, the situation deteriorated rapidly before any action could be taken.

Dr Sadiya Tasnim Munmun, upazila health and family planning officer of Kaliakair, told The Daily Star that workers started arriving at the hospital around 10:30am, creating pressure on its services.

“We are providing them with necessary treatment,” she said.

Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr M Mamunur Rahman said 60 to 65 workers had so far been admitted to the health complex following the incident.

Gazipur Industrial Police Superintendent Md Amzad Hossain said additional police personnel were being deployed to the factory to prevent any potential unrest.

Atiqul Islam, AGM (Administration) of Dressmen Garments Ltd, claimed, “Around 50 workers had fallen ill. Treatment arrangements were made immediately after the incident.”

He added that continuous rain on Monday had caused waterlogging in the area and suggested that workers might have consumed water from a submerged tap. “We did not find any problem with the factory water,” he said.

Shahidul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kaliakair Police Station, said the workers had consumed water supplied from their own water pump. “Samples of the water were sent to a laboratory in Dhaka for testing.”