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At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could increase.

A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.

Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.

The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.

Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when ignited.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.

An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.

Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.

The tragic incident has yet again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.