Photo: Collected –
Metropolis Report-
Following iftar inside the factory in Chandra, Gazipur, yesterday, three employees of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC passed away, and another became unwell.
The deceased were named Ashraf Ali, 30, of the Gosair village in the Tangail Sadar upazila, Abdul Barek Bari, 30, of the Tangail Bhuapur upazila, and Farid Mia, 29, of the Chauhali upazila in Sirajganj.
In addition, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialty Hospital is providing care for Al-Amin, 30, a worker at the factory’s powder coating division who became ill after eating Iftar.
In a statement, senior staff nurse Khadija Akter said: “At about 9:00 pm, four workers were taken from the Walton factory to the hospital. The hospital is still treating one patient while three more were brought in dead.”
The factory, like on previous days, provided iftar for 13,000 employees, according to a news statement issued by Walton Hi-Tech Industry’s deputy managing director, Humayun Kabir.
At Iftar yesterday, five employees brought soft beverages from outside. But, after having it, three of them became ill. Walton’s medical staff treated them and then sent them to the hospital, where three of them later died, according to the press release. Later, another employee became ill and was sent to the hospital’s emergency room, according to the release.
According to business policy, Walton has declared compensation and other financial support for the families of victims. An investigation of the incident will be conducted by a committee.
As a result of the deaths of three employees, the authorities have declared today a day of mourning and stated that the factory will be closed.
Yesterday, Walton Hi-Tech Factory employees in Chandra, Gazipur, blocked the highway for approximately four hours while claiming that the workers passed away from “poisoning” after ingesting factory-provided iftar. Many automobiles were also damaged, according to local sources.
The Nabinagar-Chandra roadway in front of the Walton factory was stopped by workers from 9:15 pm until 1:30 am, according to Savar Highway Police.
The workers protested by setting tires and logs on fire on the road, according to Kaliakoir Fire Service. The road barricade caused a significant tailback on the roadway.
