Over 100 workers fall sick at Bangladesh garment factory in Gazipur
Synopsis
More than 100 workers at a garment factory in Bangladesh's Gazipur district were hospitalised after drinking factory-supplied water — and a France-based rights group is now demanding a criminal investigation. The incident spotlights chronic occupational health failures in one of the world's largest garment-export industries.
Key Takeaways
More than 100 workers at Dressman Limited in Kaliakoir upazila, Gazipur fell ill after consuming factory-supplied water on Thursday .
Symptoms included vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and breathing difficulties ; affected workers were hospitalised.
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) condemned the incident and called for an independent, transparent investigation.
JMBF Founder President Shahanur Islam warned that contaminated water, if confirmed as the cause, would constitute a violation of workers' rights to life and human dignity .
The organisation urged Bangladesh to strengthen enforcement of occupational health and safety standards across all industrial establishments.
More than 100 workers at the Dressman Limited garment factory in the Chandra area of Kaliakoir upazila, Gazipur district, Bangladesh, reportedly fell ill on Thursday after consuming water supplied at the facility. The affected employees were rushed to Kaliakoir Upazila Health Complex and several nearby hospitals and clinics for treatment, triggering alarm among labour rights groups.
What Workers Reported
According to factory workers, symptoms including vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and breathing difficulties emerged shortly after consuming the factory-supplied water. As the number of affected employees climbed steadily, panic spread across the workplace, according to reports citing Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune.
Rights Group Raises Alarm
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemned the incident, calling it a reflection of serious failures in workplace health and safety. Shahanur Islam, Founder President of JMBF, said: 'The incident in which more than one hundred workers fell ill at Dressman Limited in Gazipur is deeply alarming and tragic. If contaminated water supplied by the factory is found to be the cause of this mass illness, it would constitute not merely negligence but a serious violation of the workers' rights to life, health, and human dignity. Providing safe and clean drinking water in the workplace is a fundamental legal and ethical responsibility of every employer. Any negligence that endangers workers' lives and health is wholly unacceptable.'
JMBF stated that ensuring a safe working environment and access to clean drinking water is a constitutional, legal, and moral obligation of both the government and employers in Bangladesh.
Key Demands from JMBF
The organisation called on the Bangladesh government to constitute an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation committee to determine the actual cause of the incident without delay. It also demanded prompt and exemplary legal action against any individual or institution found responsible for negligence or criminal liability.
JMBF further urged authorities to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement of occupational health and safety standards — including guaranteed access to safe drinking water — across all industrial establishments in Bangladesh, in line with international labour standards.
Broader Context
Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs millions and accounts for the bulk of the country's export earnings, has faced recurring scrutiny over workplace safety. This incident adds to a pattern of occupational health failures that rights groups argue remain inadequately addressed despite international pressure following high-profile disasters in past years. Notably, Gazipur is one of Bangladesh's most densely industrialised districts, home to hundreds of ready-made garment units.
As investigations into the source of contamination are awaited, the incident underscores persistent gaps between regulatory mandates and on-the-ground compliance in Bangladesh's industrial sector.
Point of View
Not an isolated lapse. Bangladesh's garment sector has faced international safety scrutiny for over a decade, yet incidents involving contaminated water, unsafe infrastructure, and inadequate health provisions continue to surface. The involvement of a France-based rights group highlights how the reputational stakes now extend directly to European buyers and brands sourcing from Bangladeshi factories. What is missing is a credible, publicly accountable enforcement mechanism — not just reactive investigations after workers are hospitalised. Until compliance is tied to trade and sourcing consequences, the cycle is unlikely to break.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Dressman Limited factory in Gazipur?
More than 100 workers at the Dressman Limited garment factory in Kaliakoir upazila, Gazipur, Bangladesh fell ill on Thursday after drinking water supplied by the factory. The affected workers were hospitalised at Kaliakoir Upazila Health Complex and nearby medical facilities.
What symptoms did the affected workers experience?
Workers reportedly experienced vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and breathing difficulties shortly after consuming the factory-supplied water. The rapid rise in the number of affected employees caused panic across the workplace.
Who is Justice Makers Bangladesh in France and what did they demand?
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is an international human rights organisation. It condemned the incident and demanded that the Bangladesh government form an independent investigation committee, take exemplary legal action against those responsible, and strengthen occupational health and safety enforcement across all industrial establishments.
Has the cause of the illness been confirmed?
As of the latest reports, the cause has not been officially confirmed. JMBF stated that if contaminated factory-supplied water is found to be responsible, it would constitute a serious violation of workers' rights rather than mere negligence.
Why does this incident matter for Bangladesh's garment industry?
Bangladesh's garment sector is the country's largest export earner and employs millions of workers. Recurring safety and health failures, including this incident in Gazipur, draw international scrutiny and risk consequences for brands and buyers sourcing from the country.
