More than 50 workers have suddenly fallen ill while working at a garment factory in Gazipur's Tongi, with 21 of them admitted to hospital.

The incident occurred on Monday morning at Dressmen Fashion Wear Limited.

Following the incident, the factory authorities declared a general holiday for the day.

Inspector (Tongi Zone) Azad Rahman of the Gazipur Industrial Police said police were sent to the factory after receiving the information.

The authorities announced the factory closure around noon.

Of the affected workers, 21 have been admitted to Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital in Tongi, while the others received first aid.

The workers said they began feeling unwell around 9:30am.

One by one, 54 workers fell ill. Among them, 33 were given first aid and sent home, while the rest were admitted to hospital.

Nafia Sharmin, an emergency department doctor at Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital, said 21 female workers were admitted with vomiting and breathing difficulties.

The exact cause of the illness has not yet been confirmed, she said.