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A minimum of 16 people have perished after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the fatality count could climb.

Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service said.

Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still missing.

The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.

Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.

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

Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.

Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told the media.

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

Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching 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 came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.

The tragic incident has once again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages countless of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the country.