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At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could rise.

Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.

Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still missing.

The inferno, which erupted at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.

As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources said.

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

Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when burned.

Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told reporters.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he noted.

Tearful family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.

Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told reporters.

The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.