Factory Fire in Bangladesh Kills 16, Triggers Investigation

Factory Fire in Bangladesh Kills 16, Triggers Investigation
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At least 16 people were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out on Tuesday at a garment factory and an adjoining chemical warehouse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Reuters reported. Fire service director Tajul Islam Chowdhury said rescue operations were ongoing and warned that the death toll could rise as more victims might still be trapped inside the building.

The blaze began around midday on the third floor of a four-storey factory in the Mirpur district and quickly spread to a nearby warehouse containing bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide, officials said. Firefighters managed to control the flames in the factory after nearly three hours, but the fire in the chemical facility continued to burn. Shocked families gathered outside the charred site, anxiously searching for missing relatives among the debris.

Authorities said neither the garment factory nor the chemical warehouse had the required safety permits or fire protection plans. Chowdhury noted that a locked grilled door and a tin roof had prevented workers from escaping, while a chemical explosion produced toxic gases that left many unconscious. DNA testing may be needed to identify the remains of several victims due to the severity of the burns.

Police and army units have been deployed to locate the owners of the factory, who remain missing. Interim government head Muhammad Yunus expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered a full investigation into the cause of the fire and safety lapses.

Industrial accidents are common in Bangladesh, where lax safety enforcement continues to endanger workers. The country’s garment industry, which employs about 4 million people and contributes over 10% to its GDP, has been marred by past tragedies — including the 2012 Tazreen Fashions fire and the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse that together killed more than 1,200 workers.