Workers in Gazipur fall ill after drinking factory water

Around 250 workers reportedly fell ill at a garment factory in Gazipur city today.

The incident occurred around 10:00am at the International Classic Composite Limited garment factory in the Nawjor area of the city.

Later, the factory authorities declared the factory closed for the day.

GMP Basan Police Station Officder-in-Charge (OC) Shahin Khan told The Daily Star that factory workers drank water from a line supplied inside the factory, leading to "around 250 workers being treated in the hospital".

The workers were being treated at various hospitals including Gazipur Shaheed Taj Uddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital, Professor Shirajul Haque General Hospital, and City Medical College & Hospital, said the OC.

According to workers, there are at least 4,000 workers in the factory.

They claimed to have felt nausea, dizziness and stomach pain after drinking the water from the line in question.

Abdullah Al Morshed, a doctor at the emergency department of Professor Shiraju had symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and stomach pain, adl Haque General Hospital, said the sick workers, adding that most of them have recovered after receiving treatment.

"I have provided medical care to 32 people. All of them came to the hospital after falling ill from drinking water. It is a water-borne disease," said Manzoor Morshed, a doctor on duty at the emergency department of Shaheed Taj Uddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital.

The owner of the factory, MA Motaleb, told The Daily Star, "I came to know about the news that some workers have fallen ill after drinking the water. I am also sick and have now come to the doctor. I will find out more about this."