Bangladesh: A massive blaze that erupted at a chemical warehouse in Dhaka’s Mirpur-Rupnagar area on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) claimed the lives of at least 16 garment workers and left 13 others missing, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The fire, fueled by a series of explosions, spread swiftly to a nearby building housing several readymade garments (RMG) factories, turning the complex into a scene of devastation.
According to witnesses, the fire began around 11:45am in a chemical storage facility located beside the garments building. Within moments, a series of 10 to 15 loud explosions shook the neighborhood, sending thick, toxic smoke billowing through the area. The fumes spread rapidly, rendering many workers unconscious before they could escape.
Fire Service officials suspect that poisonous white smoke—likely a form of toxic gas—emanated from burning chemicals in the warehouse, proving fatal for many trapped inside.
“The blaze reached the developed stage almost instantly, and the workers lost consciousness due to the heavy concentration of fumes,” an officer said.
Further investigation revealed that the rooftop exit of the factory building was locked with two padlocks, preventing workers from reaching safety.
Fire officials also confirmed that neither the garment units nor the adjacent chemical warehouse possessed any valid fire safety certificate or approved safety plan.
At the scene, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service, briefed reporters on Tuesday evening, saying, “The factories and the chemical godown were operating without fire safety approval. The owner of the warehouse and factory officials have been missing since the fire.”
Eyewitnesses added that the blaze may have started in a nearby wash unit, which then spread to the chemical warehouse. Subsequent explosions triggered a chain reaction, engulfing the five-storey factory building in minutes.
The affected premises housed several clothing units:
- RN Fashion on the third and fourth floors, producing vests;
- Smart Printing on the second floor, specializing in T-shirt printing; and
- Bismillah Fashion on the fifth floor, operating as a garment printing facility.
Many workers tried desperately to escape as the fire spread, but several became trapped amid the smoke and locked exits. Locals and students from the nearby Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) joined in rescue efforts before the arrival of emergency services.
Firefighters reached the spot within 16 minutes of receiving the call, initially with five units. Reinforcements soon arrived, bringing the total to twelve units. Supported by the Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police, and BNCC, the teams fought the blaze for nearly five hours before bringing it under control.
Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal, Director General of the Fire Service, later visited the site, warning that the fire could reignite due to chemical residues.
“We cannot say the blaze is fully extinguished yet,” he cautioned. A team from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was scheduled to inspect the site and analyze the chemical samples.
By Wednesday morning, rescue workers were still combing through the charred remains of the building in search of the 13 missing employees feared trapped beneath the debris.
The incident has reignited debate over the poor enforcement of safety regulations in Dhaka’s industrial zones, where chemical depots and garment factories often coexist without proper fire safety systems—turning workplaces into death traps waiting to ignite.
