16 dead in Mirpur factory inferno, chemical fire remains active

At least 16 people have died in a catastrophic fire that engulfed a garment factory in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on Tuesday, following a suspected chemical explosion.

The blaze broke out around midday in the Shialbari area of Rupnagar, rapidly spreading from a garment unit to an adjacent chemical warehouse, trapping workers inside and leaving a trail of destruction.

There were conflicting accounts regarding the origin of the fire.Some witnesses claimed it began in the Anwar Fashion Garments Factory, while others said the blaze started in the adjacent Shah Alam Chemical Warehouse and later spread to the garment unit.

Responding to questions from reporters at the scene, Fire Service Director (Operations and Maintenance) Lt Col Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said: “Fire personnel observed flames at both the chemical warehouse and the garment factory upon arrival. However, the exact point of origin has yet to be confirmed.”

“Our operation is still underway,” he said.

“We’ll be able to determine the details once it’s complete.”

Eyewitnesses reported a sudden explosion, believed to have occurred in the factory’s ground-floor wash unit, which triggered a chain reaction in the chemical storage facility.

Firefighters from 12 units rushed to the scene after receiving the call at 11:56am.Army personnel were deployed to control the crowd, while students from nearby universities, volunteers, police, RAB, and BGB joined in rescue and support efforts.

Bodies burned beyond recognition
By late afternoon, nine bodies had been recovered from the factory. The death toll rose to 16 by 7:15pm, all found within the garment building.

Fire Service officials said the victims were likely trapped between the second and third floors, unable to escape due to locked rooftop exits and the rapid spread of toxic gas from the chemical explosion.

“The roof was made of tin and thatch, and the exit was sealed with two padlocks,” said Lt Col Tajul.

“When the flashover occurred, it released highly toxic gas. The victims inhaled it, lost consciousness, and died instantly.”

He added that the bodies were severely burned and unrecognizable, requiring DNA testing for identification.

All remains have been sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fire.

In a condolence message, he offered prayers for the deceased, wished a speedy recovery for the injured, and urged authorities to investigate the incident and support affected families.