A fire at a clothing factory in Bangladesh and an adjacent chemical storage facility resulted in at least 16 fatalities and multiple injuries, with the death toll likely to increase as rescue efforts continue, according to officials.
“Sixteen bodies have been recovered from the second and third floors of the factory,” stated Tajul Islam Chowdhury, head of the fire services. He noted that the number of deaths could rise as recovery operations are still underway.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
The blaze ignited around midday on the third floor of the seven-story factory located in Dhaka’s Mirpur district, before spreading to a chemical warehouse that stored bleaching powder, plastics, and hydrogen peroxide, explained Talha Bin Jashim, another fire department officer, citing eyewitness accounts.
Family members, visibly distressed, gathered at the scene searching for loved ones, some clutching photographs.
Historical Context of Industrial Disasters
Chowdhury mentioned that the owners of the factory have not yet been identified. “The police and military are searching for them,” he said.
When asked about the legality of the chemical warehouse’s operation, he responded, “We don’t have confirmation yet, but reports suggest it was illegal. We will verify once the investigation is complete.”
Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy in a condolence message, instructing authorities to investigate the fire’s cause and provide assistance to victims and their families.
The country faces frequent industrial accidents due to inadequate fire and building safety standards—disasters that have tarnished Bangladesh’s textile industry, a sector that employs around 4 million people and contributes over 10% to the nation’s GDP.
Most notably, in 2013, over 1,100 individuals lost their lives when the Rana Plaza building, housing multiple garment factories, suddenly collapsed.
On Tuesday, 12 firefighting units managed to take control of the fire at the factory after nearly three hours, although the blaze in the chemical warehouse continued. Rescue operations involved members of the Bangladesh Army, police, and border guard forces.
