Recently, the recurring incidents of workers suddenly falling ill in various ready-made garment (RMG) factories across Savar, Ashulia, Uttara, and Gazipur have sparked nationwide concern. In some places, over a hundred workers are being hospitalized simultaneously, while elsewhere, symptoms like burning sensations in the eyes and mouth, respiratory distress, dizziness, physical tremors, abnormal behavior, or chaotic stampedes driven by sheer panic are being reported. Following these events, many individuals—ranging from social media users to local residents—are projecting these incidents as “possession by djinns/ghosts” or the influence of supernatural forces.
But the question remains: standing in the 21st century, can we truly remain content with such explanations? Or is this narrative merely masking a deeper, more brutal reality?
I firmly believe that these incidents are not supernatural. Rather, they are a silent outcry stemming from the long-standing exploitation, inhumane working environments, extreme mental stress, and sheer negligence embedded within our garment industry.
Global health experts and psychologists explain such phenomena scientifically as Mass Psychogenic Illness (MPI) or collective stress-induced illness. When people in a workplace endure identical mental stress, fear, uncertainty, and physical exhaustion over a prolonged period, the sudden illness of one individual can rapidly trigger similar physical symptoms in others. This is neither acting nor a supernatural occurrence. It is a real, scientifically recognized phenomenon documented in numerous countries worldwide.

The Harsh Reality Behind the Numbers
One does not need to look far to find the actual causes behind these incidents in Bangladesh’s RMG sector. Conversations with workers from various factories paint a clear picture: in many facilities, workers are forced to toil from 8:00 AM until 11:00 PM every day. During peak export seasons, work often stretches until 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM. Many are even called in on their weekly holidays. Returning home in the dead of night, followed by cooking, eating, and managing family responsibilities, means they barely hit the bed by 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM—only to wake up by 5:00 AM to head back to the workplace.
In essence, a worker is keeping the wheels of production running continuously while surviving on just 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day.
Medical science asserts that chronic sleep deprivation severely damages human memory, focus, immunity, and mental stability. Concurrently, it exponentially multiplies the risks of anxiety, depression, panic, and sudden physical breakdowns.
Coupled with this is another harsh reality—inadequate wages.
Even today, countless garment workers earn wages that make it difficult to meet their family’s basic needs. Many survive day after day on lentils, mashed potatoes (aloo bhorta), greens, or low-cost food items. Adequate protein, milk, eggs, fish, meat, or fruits remain entirely out of their reach. Consequently, chronic malnutrition, anemia, and physical frailty become their constant companions.

Economic Insecurity and Coercion
Workers must endure hours standing on the production lines with these weakened bodies. Overtime is not a choice but a compulsion for extra income, as running a household is impossible without it. Furthermore, refusing overtime often carries the looming threat of job termination. This is not a voluntary decision; it is a silent coercion born out of economic disparity and labor market insecurity.
Under such volatile conditions, if a single worker suddenly collapses, it is only natural for panic to ripple through other workers who share the exact same mental stress and physical vulnerability. Therefore, dismissing these events as “ghostly possessions” is not a solution; rather, it derails genuine investigations into the root causes.
What is more alarming is that, in many instances, factory authorities attempt to quickly hush up the matters. The core issues are obscured through exorcisms, religious rituals, or rumors. Yet, following every such incident, independent experts should conduct thorough investigations into:
• Air quality and chemical usage in the factory
• Temperature control and ventilation
• Noise pollution and fire safety
• Working hours and rest periods
• Physical and mental health of the workers
The tragic demise of Liza Begum, a sewing operator at Color and Company Limited in Sreepur, Gazipur, forces us to confront the same question: Could her death have been prevented if she had been granted timely leave, medical care, and humane support? Every worker’s life is not merely a production statistic; it represents a family’s dream, a child’s future, and a valuable asset to society.

The Path Forward
The Ready-Made Garment industry of Bangladesh stands today as a symbol of success in the global market. This sector is the primary source of the country’s export earnings and a driving engine of the economy. However, the foundation of this success has been built upon the sweat, labor, and sacrifices of millions of workers. It is impossible to achieve the dream of a sustainable industry without ensuring their health, safety, and dignity.
The time has come to look squarely at the root causes.
The government, factory owners, international buyers, trade unions, and all stakeholders must work in unison. Working hours must be regulated in compliance with international labor standards. We must foster worker-friendly management that ensures adequate rest, a living wage, safe working environments, access to nutritious food, and mental healthcare. Regular health risk assessments, psychosocial support, and independent labor inspection systems must be made functional in every factory.
It must be remembered that a worker is not just an element of production; they are a human being. They experience fatigue, hunger, the need for sleep, mental stress, family ties, and above all, they have the right to live.
The factories that repeatedly witness the so-called “ghost panics” do not harbor supernatural entities. Instead, they harbor a brutal reality of negligence, excessive workloads, malnutrition, insufficient rest, hazardous working environments, economic uncertainty, and boundless psychological stress.
Acknowledging that reality is the very first step toward a solution. Because it is no invisible ghost—the greatest terror for these workers is poverty, exploitation, unsafe workplaces, and the chronic agony of being deprived of their legitimate rights.

Written by:
Khairul Mamun Mintu
Labor Rights Activist