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No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could climb.

16 bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire service stated.

Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.

The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.

Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.

According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when combusted.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director told journalists.

An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.

Weeping family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.

Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.

"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to journalists.

The tragic incident has another time underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the country.