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A minimum of 16 persons have died after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.

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

Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still missing.

The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.

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

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when ignited.

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

An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he added.

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

Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he told news media.

The devastating event has once again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.