Fire Erupts in Garment Factory and Adjacent Warehouse
On October 14, 2025, a fire broke out at a garment factory in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, spreading rapidly to an adjoining chemical warehouse. Fire officials recovered 16 bodies so far, with many others injured, and warned that the death toll might rise as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
The blaze reportedly began on the third floor of a multi-story garment building and then engulfed the chemical storage nearby. Rescue teams said that thick toxic fumes, fueled by burning plastic and chemicals like bleaching powder and hydrogen peroxide, made firefighting operations especially hazardous.
Locked Exits, Gas Inhalation, and Safety Failures
A fire service official, Talha Bin Jashim, stated that the roof door was locked, preventing many victims from escaping upward. He also said that toxic gas inhalation — rather than burns — was likely the primary cause of death for many victims.
Because the chemical warehouse was still burning even after the factory fire had been brought under control, residual smoke and fumes continued to hamper rescue efforts. Dozens of nearby workers were reported ill due to smoke exposure, and authorities ordered the temporary shutdown of surrounding factories as a precaution.
Officials say it is not yet clear whether the chemical warehouse had proper licensing or safety clearance. The owners of both the factory and the warehouse are currently under investigation and have not yet been publicly identified. Reuters+2AP News+2
A Recurring Crisis: Safety in the Garment Industry
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which employs about 4 million workers, is one of the largest exporters of apparel globally.Over the years, the industry has been plagued by fires, building collapses, and safety lapses — most notably the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse, which killed more than 1,100 people.
Despite reforms and inspections prompted by past disasters, many smaller factories and warehouses still operate under lax safety oversight. Critics argue that weak regulation, poor enforcement, and cost pressures continue to leave workers vulnerable.
Reactions and What Comes Next
The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, issued condolences and instructed authorities to investigate the cause of the fire and ensure support for victims and their families. Fire, police, and army units were all mobilized to assist in the response.
As the bodies are identified at hospitals in Dhaka, families of missing workers are anxiously seeking news. Longer term, this tragedy will likely intensify calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards, improved oversight of chemical storage in industrial zones, and accountability for factory owners and local regulators who permit dangerous conditions.
This fire is a grim reminder that despite past reforms and global attention, safety hazards in Bangladesh’s garment sector persist — and that vulnerabilities in infrastructure, regulation, and oversight still exact a heavy human toll.
