More than one hundred garment workers at a factory in the Mill Gate area of Tongi, Gazipur, suddenly fell ill around 2 pm on Saturday and were admitted to various hospitals. Witnesses said workers began collapsing one after another, with many becoming unconscious and salivating. Most of the affected workers were women, and the incident occurred on the factory’s 5th floor.
Workers reported that a colleague had recently died of a stroke at the same factory, and ongoing fears of earthquakes had created anxiety among employees. They suggested these factors may have contributed to Saturday’s incident. At the time of reporting, neither doctors nor factory authorities could confirm the cause. Hospital corridors and balconies filled rapidly with unconscious patients as panic spread in the area.
Factory authorities transported workers to Tongi Government Hospital and nearby medical facilities using factory vehicles. Within a short time, the hospitals were overwhelmed. Hearing the news, thousands of family members rushed to Tongi Hospital, leading to widespread distress among relatives searching for injured workers.
Tongi West Police Station OC Harun Or Rashid said initial observations suggest the workers became ill due to fear or panic. He added that further details would emerge after an investigation.
Tongi Government Hospital Superintendent Dr. Afzalur Rahman stated that such incidents typically occur due to mass panic. Two workers were admitted to the hospital, and twelve received treatment.
Factory General Manager Engineer Mizanur Rahman confirmed that the workers fell ill due to panic and said they were treated at various hospitals. The factory declared a holiday for the rest of the day.
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