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No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could increase.

16 bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service said.

Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still not found.

The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services confirmed.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.

Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.

Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when burned.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed reporters.

An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he noted.

Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.

Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.

"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to journalists.

The tragic incident has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the country.