Another worker dies of diarrhoea after drinking water at Ishwardi EPZ

Another female worker has died of diarrhoea after being infected at the Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Pabna. Most recently, Mahfuza Khatun (30) died around 9:00 am on Tuesday. She was a worker of Nakano International Company and the wife of Sagar Hossain, a resident of Pearakhali in the municipal area. Her family stated that she contracted diarrhoea after drinking the contaminated water supplied by the EPZ. Earlier, Kona Khatun (25) died on Sunday night; she worked in the quality cutting section of IHM Company.

She was a resident of Tilakpur village in Sahapur union. In the wake of this incident, the number of diarrhoea-infected workers is steadily increasing. Until Tuesday, the number of patients admitted to the Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex and other hospitals rose to 247. Among them, 48 new patients were admitted on Tuesday alone. Most of the patients are workers of various companies in the EPZ.

To investigate the diarrhoea situation, a six-member delegation from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) arrived in Ishwardi on Monday afternoon. They visited the EPZ area and collected water and other samples. ABM Shahidul Islam, Executive Director of Ishwardi EPZ, said, "About 20,000 workers work in the Ishwardi EPZ. We are worried. Drinking water samples from every factory have already been sent to Dhaka.

Cleanliness is being maintained in the factory areas, and an adequate supply of oral saline is being kept in the medical centres of various companies. Sick workers are being provided with treatment. However, the test results of the water samples have not yet been received. The actual cause can be confirmed once the report is available." Upazila Health Officer Dr. Md. Ali Ehsan said that the situation is alarming as the number of patients is increasing rapidly.

Although necessary treatment and oral saline supplies are being provided, ensuring a safe water supply is crucial for improving the situation.