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A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.

Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department said.

Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still not found.

The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.

Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.

Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.

Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when burned.

Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed the media.

An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.

Crying family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.

Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.

The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the country.