At least 16 people have died in a catastrophic fire that engulfed a garment factory in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on Tuesday, following a suspected chemical explosion.
The blaze broke out around midday in the Shialbari area of Rupnagar, rapidly spreading from a garment unit to an adjacent chemical warehouse, trapping workers inside and leaving a trail of destruction.
There were conflicting accounts regarding the origin of the fire.
Some witnesses claimed it began in the Anwar Fashion Garments Factory, while others said the blaze started in the adjacent Shah Alam Chemical Warehouse and later spread to the garment unit.
Responding to questions from reporters at the scene, Fire Service Director (Operations and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said: “Fire personnel observed flames at both the chemical warehouse and the garment factory upon arrival. However, the exact point of origin has yet to be confirmed.”
“Our operation is still underway,” he said. “We’ll be able to determine the details once it’s complete.”
Eyewitnesses reported a sudden explosion, believed to have occurred in the factory’s ground-floor wash unit, which triggered a chain reaction in the chemical storage facility.
Firefighters from 12 units rushed to the scene after receiving the call at 11:56am.
Army personnel were deployed to control the crowd, while students from nearby universities, volunteers, police, RAB, and BGB joined in rescue and support efforts.
Bodies burned beyond recognition
By late afternoon, nine bodies had been recovered from the factory. The death toll rose to 16 by 7:15pm, all found within the garment building.
Fire Service officials said the victims were likely trapped between the second and third floors, unable to escape due to locked rooftop exits and the rapid spread of toxic gas from the chemical explosion.
“The roof was made of tin and thatch, and the exit was sealed with two padlocks,” said Lt Col Tajul.
“When the flashover occurred, it released highly toxic gas. The victims inhaled it, lost consciousness, and died instantly.”
He added that the bodies were severely burned and unrecognizable, requiring DNA testing for identification.
All remains have been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire.
In a condolence message, he offered prayers for the deceased, wished a speedy recovery for the injured, and urged authorities to investigate the incident and support affected families.
CID collected evidence
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) collected evidence from the site of the fire.
CID Special Superintendent (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan confirmed in the evening that their crime scene unit and chemical lab experts had worked on-site.
“The evidence will be thoroughly analyzed to determine the origin and cause of the fire,” he said.
The fire in the garment section has since been brought under control, but the adjacent chemical warehouse remains ablaze.
“We have not yet entered the warehouse due to extreme risk,” said Lt Col Tajul.
“We are monitoring the situation using drones and loop monitors. Flames and thick smoke are still visible.”
Initial reports suggest the warehouse stored hazardous substances including bleaching powder, hydrogen peroxide, meta potash, enzymes, and plastic.
Local residents said six to seven types of chemicals were kept there without proper safety measures.
Fire Service Media Officer Talha Bin Jasim confirmed that neither the garment factory nor the chemical warehouse had fire safety licences or approved protection plans.
“There was no fire safety infrastructure in place,” he said.
Authorities have yet to locate the owners or staff of the chemical warehouse.
“It appears the warehouse was operating without a permit,” Lt Col Tajul said.
“Further investigation will confirm the details.”
Grief, uncertainty grip families
The number of missing persons remains unconfirmed, but families continue to wait anxiously for news of their loved ones.
By evening, the scene outside the charred building was marked by anguish and desperation.
Relatives stood clutching photographs, hoping for a miracle.
Among them was Reshma Akhter, searching for her son’s sister-in-law, Asma Akhter, who had been missing since the fire erupted.
“We still can’t find her,” she said, adding that Asma had been living with her aunt in Dhaka.
Ratan, a father from Shialbari, stood outside the ruins of the factory, looking for his 15-year-old daughter Farzana Akhter.
“I just want to get my daughter back,” he said, overwhelmed by the lack of information.
Shafiqul Islam wandered the area with a photo of his 14-year-old niece Mahira, who worked on the third floor of the factory.
“I’ve searched hospitals and spoken to the fire service. No one can tell me anything,” he said, breaking down in tears.
Laiju Begum, sister of missing worker Nargis Akhter, said her sibling had arrived at work around 8am.
“By 11am, I heard about the fire. Since then, there’s been no news. No one could get out,” she said.
As the recovery operation continues, officials have pledged to bring the situation under control and determine the cause of the fire.
“We mourn the loss of 16 lives in this tragic incident,” said Lt Col Tajul.
“Our efforts are ongoing, and we will provide updates once the chemical fire is fully extinguished.”
