Deadly Factory Blaze Kills 16 in Dhaka, Toll Feared to Rise

At least 16 people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire tore through a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse in the Mirpur area of Bangladesh's capital on Tuesday.

The blaze, which began around midday on the third floor of the seven-story garment building, quickly spread to a nearby chemical depot, believed to be storing hazardous materials including bleaching powder and hydrogen peroxide. Fire Service and Civil Defence officials has confirmed the death toll, stating that the victims were recovered primarily from the factory's lower floors and are suspected to have died from inhaling toxic fumes released by the burning chemicals. Rescuers fear the number of fatalities could climb as search and recovery operations continue late into the evening.

Twelve firefighting units were deployed to battle the inferno, eventually bringing the fire at the garment factory under control, though efforts to completely douse the blaze at the chemical warehouse were ongoing. Officials reported that no owners or employees of the chemical warehouse, which is suspected to have been operating illegally, were present at the scene.

The tragic incident has once again highlighted the persistent and critical safety lapses within Bangladesh’s massive $40 billion ready-made garment industry, the world's second largest exporter. Past industrial tragedies, including the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse that killed over 1,100 people, have repeatedly drawn international scrutiny to the sector's lax monitoring and disregard for building and fire safety codes.

Grief stricken relatives gathered near the site, anxiously awaiting news of their missing loved ones, some clutching photographs. Bangladesh's interim government head, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and directed authorities to launch an investigation into the cause of the fire and ensure all necessary assistance is provided to the victims and their families.

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