RANGPUR, Oct 16: Due to prolonged exposure to toxic dust of tobacco hundreds of bidi factory workers at different bidi factories under Haragachh union of Kawnia upazila in the district are facing severe health risk.
Sources said the bidi workers, including a good number of women and children, are working at the bidi factories of Haragachh in semi-dark and unhealthy environment.
Consequently, many of them get attacked with TB, asthma, cough, skin disease, eye disease and other respiratory diseases.
Sources informed that a bidi worker has to work around 8 to 10 hours to make thousands of bidi sticks in polluted environment which causes serious health hazard.
Almost all the workers are not aware of their health related matters and environment of the working place.
They do not use mask and hand gloves to protect themselves. They are always exposed to tobacco dust and toxic chemicals.
Jarina Begum, a worker of Gafur bidi factory said that tobacco dust is the main cause of various serious diseases and they inhale it while working in bidi factories. But they are helpless owing to lack of adequate employment opportunity in the area, she further said.
Expressing disappointment Rashedul, another worker of Ansar bidi factory said he had been attacked with asthma one year ago but did not get any financial assistance from the owner of the factory.
Many of the bidi workers are suffering from different diseases but the authorities concerned are oblivious to the matter, he lamented.
A good number of bidi factory labourers alleged that they feel breathing problem while working due to pungent tobacco dust floating in the air.
They can hardly afford good treatment and die early, said physicians. As per law, a factory owner must employ a doctor for regular checkup of the workers. But it is almost never done, it is alleged.
Workers alleged that owing to lack of alternative job opportunities they are compelled to work in such hazardous environment, they added.
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