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At least 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could increase.

Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service said.

Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.

The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.

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

Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.

Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when burned.

Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed the media.

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

Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.

Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.

"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.

The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant source of export earnings for the South Asian economy.