At least 16 workers lost their lives on Tuesday after a massive fire, triggered by an explosion at an illegal chemical warehouse, tore through a garments factory in Dhaka’s Mirpur area. The tragedy has reignited public outrage over regulatory failures and industrial safety lapses.
The blaze erupted at M/S Alam Trading, an unauthorized chemical storage facility in Shialbari, Rupnagar. Highly flammable substances ignited in the explosion, rapidly spreading flames to the adjacent readymade garments factory. Dozens of workers were trapped on the upper floors as the fire intensified.
Locals condemned the incident as a result of blatant lawlessness and government inaction. They pointed out that the warehouse had been flagged in media reports just a month earlier, yet no steps were taken to shut it down.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director Lt Col Tajul Islam Chowdhury confirmed that firefighters recovered 16 bodies from the first and second floors of the factory. He said the victims likely died from toxic gas inhalation and were unable to escape because the rooftop grill door was locked.
The bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for identification and examination. One volunteer sustained minor injuries during the rescue operation and was admitted to hospital.
Authorities remain uncertain about how many people were inside the chemical warehouse at the time of the explosion. Firefighters deployed drones to help contain the blaze, which continued to burn in parts of the building late into the evening.
The incident marks yet another preventable industrial disaster in Bangladesh, where illegal storage of hazardous materials and weak enforcement of safety regulations have repeatedly led to deadly outcomes.
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