Thousands of homes were cut off from power in northeastern Japan after four people were killed in an earthquake

The cost of color: in the “dyeing villages” of Bangladesh, a neglected problem of health risks

Dhaka: When Mohamed Hassan gets to work at 5am, he will keep his hands drenched in water mixed with different pigments for 12 to 14 hours – from earthy to bright colors, depending on the season’s latest fashion trends.

Sometimes Hassan’s complexion gets hurt, and burns due to the combination of chemicals used to obtain a certain colour. But he used to, like hundreds of others in Purinda, one of the villages in Narayanganj district that has gained fame – and notoriety – as the “dyeing villages” of Bangladesh.

Strands of all shades of the rainbow are hung to dry across Purinda, just 20 kilometers from the capital, Dhaka. Behind them, Hassan and his colleagues at the dyeing mills mix and boil salts, acids, and emulsions to create these colors.

“To color the thread red, we make a mixture of three to four colors. Then we rub the thread in this mixture. Later, we soak the bundle of thread in another mixture of colors which makes the thread red,” Hassan told Arab News.

He earns about 22,000 Bangladeshi Taka ($240) per month.

“This work is painful. But I need to do this to make ends meet. I have no other options on hand. Since I learned this business, I will have to do it,” he said.

“I couldn’t shape my life properly when I was young. So, now I don’t dream about making life colorful anymore.”

Dye mill workers color dye yarn in Purinda village, Narayanganj district, Bangladesh, July 27, 2022 (AN photo)

Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, who started working in a dye house in Purinda as a teenager more than 50 years ago, also admits that he suffers from skin lesions where his bare hands come into contact with harsh chemicals every day.

“This job is very painful,” he said. “I may have been able to do another job. But I do this job because I learned this job.”

Skin problems aren’t the only risks workers face.

Dr. ASM Mushiur Rahman, Narayanganj government health official, told Arab News that the dyeing factories in the villages of the Araihazar sub-district do not follow any sanitary protocols, do not have proper protective clothing, and use chemicals that are not only harmful to the skin, but also to the lungs.

A dye mill worker in Purinda village, Narayanganj district, Bangladesh, July 27, 2022 (AN photo)

“Starting with infections in the lungs, it can end with lung cancer,” he said.

“They have bronchitis, coughing, etc. We noticed that the number of TB patients is also high among people who work in these industries.”

There is little awareness among workers and factory owners about the problem.

Muhammad Shah Jalal Pradhan, who owns a dyeing factory in Purinda, admits that the business “has some limitations”.

He said, “The chemicals we use give off bad odors. Some of our workers are allergic.”

A dyeing agent coloring filaments in Purinda village, Narayanganj district, Bangladesh, July 27, 2022 (AN photo)

The textile sector, which includes dyeing factories, is the number one industry in Bangladesh, employing more than 4 million people, contributing more than 11 percent of the country’s GDP and accounting for 80 percent of exports.

But there is a lack of comprehensive regulation, as dye houses are not officially recognized businesses, allowing owners to evade surveillance by industry regulators, even though the sites have been around for generations.

“These workers are treated as non-institutionalized workers,” said Saleem Mahmood, head of labor rights group Garments Sromik Front in Narayanganj.

“They have no security in their workplace.”

Local authorities say they are not aware of the situation.

Rafiq Al-Islam, the chief administrative officer of Aryahizar district, told Arab News that the administration “wasn’t aware of this kind of business entity before.”

He added, “Generally, we do not inspect this type of factory, but if we find any complaints against any business, we check it. So far, no one has told us anything about this.”

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos