Dhaka, Bangladesh — At least nine people have died and several others were injured after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory and adjoining chemical warehouse in the capital’s Mirpur district on Tuesday.
According to fire official Talha bin Jashim, the blaze is believed to have started on the third floor of a seven-storey garment building before rapidly spreading through the structure. Rescue teams recovered at least nine bodies, and officials warned that the death toll could rise as search and recovery efforts continue. Several injured workers were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control by evening. Emergency crews remain on site to conduct a full search of the building and assess structural damage.
The incident once again highlights safety lapses in Bangladesh’s garment industry, which is the second largest in the world after China. The sector employs approximately four million workers, the vast majority of them women, and generates around $40 billion annually through exports, mainly to the United States and Europe. Industrial accidents, including fires and building collapses, have plagued the industry for years, often linked to inadequate oversight and violations of building codes.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, and an investigation is expected to be launched to determine whether safety violations played a role in the tragedy.