Workers blame 'growing pressure' as 30 colleagues fall ill at Gazipur factory

The workers complain of working extra hours due to growing demand before Eid

At least 30 workers have suddenly fallen ill while working at a readymade garment factory in Gazipur city, forcing the factory authorities to announce a one-day holiday.

The incident took place at Alema Textiles Ltd on Vogra Bason Road around 11am on Tuesday, said Bason Police chief Harun Or Rashid.

All of the workers are out of danger, he added.

The factory workers said they have been working extra hours for the last few days due to growing demand ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha holiday.

Many of them became physically weak due to the workload.

The workers were rushed to several local clinics, including Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital and Tairunnesa Memorial Medical College and Hospital.

They returned home after receiving primary treatment there.

Rafiqul Islam, an officer in the factory's administration department, said the workers joined work normally in the morning.

Around 10am, some workers suddenly fell ill. At least 30 workers fainted while being rescued and taken to the hospital, he added.

Rafiqul, however, could not confirm the cause of their illness.

Ashraful Islam, managing director of Bason Sarak Bismillah Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, said many of the sick workers were suffering from asthma.

“The workers said many of them fell ill and fainted after going to the factory toilet,” he added.

The officer said the factory declared a one-day holiday after the incident.