Prioritising workers' health and safety

The recent incident in which 147 workers fell ill at a garment factory in Sreepur, Gazipur raises serious concerns about occupational health and workplace safety. Such incidents not only disrupt production but also create fear, anxiety, and uncertainty among workers.
What is particularly alarming is the tendency to attribute these incidents to supernatural causes rather than investigating them scientifically. While religious practices may provide emotional comfort, they should never replace evidence-based medical and environmental investigations. Health experts have suggested that the illnesses could be linked to mass psychogenic illness (mass hysteria), but other possible causes, including poor ventilation, excessive heat, chemical exposure, or food contamination must also be thoroughly examined.
Bangladesh's garment industry is the backbone of the national economy, employing millions of workers. Ensuring a safe and healthy working environment is therefore not only a moral obligation but also an economic necessity. Factory owners should regularly assess workplace conditions, monitor air quality, review chemical safety practices and ensure adequate ventilation. Equally important is providing workers with access to healthcare services, psychological counselling, and authentic information to prevent fear, rumours, and misinformation from spreading.
The decision by the health authorities to form an investigation committee is a welcome step. However, the investigation must be comprehensive, transparent and based on scientific evidence. Any environmental or occupational hazards identified should be addressed immediately, and the findings should be used to strengthen workplace health and safety standards across the garment sector.
Protecting workers' physical and mental well-being is essential for sustaining productivity, industrial harmony and the long-term competitiveness of Bangladesh's ready-made garment industry.

Ashikujaman Syed
Research Associate
Bioinformatics Research Lab
Center for Research Innovation and Development (CRID).
syedashikujaman@yahoo.com