The fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse in the capital's Rupnagar's Shialbari area has not been completely extinguished even after 23 hours. The fire broke out shortly after 11:30 am on Tuesday. Smoke was still seen coming out of the warehouse at 10:30 am on Wednesday.

At the same time, the fire at the garment factory opposite the warehouse that caught fire was extinguished on Tuesday. The bodies of 16 people were recovered from the four-story building. Their identities could not be immediately identified due to the charred condition. The bodies have been sent to the Dhaka Medical College Morgue. Relatives of the missing persons have been gathering there since night. On Wednesday morning, some of them claimed that the bodies were their relatives after seeing them. However, officials concerned say that it is difficult to confirm the identity without a DNA test.

Fire Service Media Cell Officer Talha Bin Jasim told, "The fire at the chemical warehouse has not yet been extinguished. It is not certain how much more time it will take. However, fire service personnel are working."

Local resident Abdul Jalil, who witnessed the fire, said that the fire first started in the chemical warehouse. The flames shot up like fireworks. Then the fire spread to the building in front. The ground floor of the four-story building housed an embroidery factory, a screen printing factory on the second floor, a garment factory on the third floor, and a garment warehouse on the fourth floor. At first, no one realized that the building was on fire. So no one paid attention to it. By then, the people inside had burned to death.

Meanwhile, the owner of the chemical warehouse, Shah Alam, has been absconding since the incident. Locals said he has multiple warehouses in the area.