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At least 16 individuals have died after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could climb.

A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department said.

Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still missing.

The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several 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, journalistic accounts indicated.

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

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.

Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.

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

Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.

Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.

The catastrophic occurrence has once again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a major provider of export earnings for the country.