According to a recent report, about 25,000 workers in the bidi, zarda and gul factories in the northern part of Bangladesh are suffering from several diseases including tuberculosis and ulcers. The cause of these maladies is attributable to unhygienic conditions prevailing in factories -- especially tobacco-based units. Over one lakh people -- mainly women and children -- work in these factories. There are 85 such factories situated in 16 northern districts.
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