Three factory workers who died yesterday shortly after having iftar, were among five who drank juice outside the dining service of the company, according to Walton Hi-Tech Industries. Signed by the company’s Deputy Managing Director, Md Humayun Kabir, a press release reads that all Walton employees are particularly instructed not to eat any food other than that provided by the company. Another worker also fell sick and is undergoing treatment, it added. Also Read: Three factory workers die in Gazipur Three Walton Hi-Tech factory workers died after having iftar at Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur district on Sunday evening. The deceased are Sheikh Farid Hossain, 30; Abdul Barek, 48; and Ashraf Ali, 30. Angry workers of the factory blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar highway by burning tyres after hearing of the incident. Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tajwar Akram Sakapi said that three workers of the factory became ill after having iftar and were taken to the nearby hospital quickly, where the doctors declared the three dead. The doctors, however, could not identify the exact cause of their death.    

The BNP on Wednesday sought an explanation from its vice-chairman and journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud for holding a rally in the city ignoring the party's decision. A letter, signed by the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, asked Shawkat to give an explanation for his action within five days. On March 27 last, a rally was held in front of the National Press Club under the banner of "Professional Society," demanding that the government check the surge in prices of essential items, restore democracy and release BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.  Leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies joined the programme under the leadership of Shawkat. READ: Mismanagement behind submersion of haor areas’ crops: BNP A recent meeting of BNP's standing committee decided to take organisational action against Shawkat for arranging such a programme without the party's permission. A senior BNP leader told UNB that Shawkat can be expelled by the party high command if he fails to come up with a satisfactory explanation.  Earlier in December last year, the party issued a show-cause notice to Shawkat Mahmud for violating the party discipline by staging a sudden demonstration in the city by "misguiding" party leaders and activists.