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A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could rise.

A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.

Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.

The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.

Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed journalists.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.

Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.

Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.

"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.

The tragic incident has yet again highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.