DHAKA – At least 16 people were killed and several injured after a massive fire ripped through a garment factory and an adjoining chemical warehouse in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on Tuesday, October 14. The disaster has once again laid bare the fragile state of industrial safety in Bangladesh’s critical, but highly scrutinized, garment sector.
Casualty numbers are expected to rise as search operations continue. Many victims were trapped inside the seven-storey factory as the blaze reportedly preceded by an explosion, quickly spread through piles of fabric, chemicals, and machinery.
Safety Lapses and Absconding Owners
The inferno broke out around midday on the third floor of the factory building before spreading to a nearby warehouse storing highly flammable materials, including bleaching powder, hydrogen peroxide, and plastic goods. Twelve fire units battled the blaze for nearly three hours, though the chemical warehouse continued to burn into the evening.
Fire Service Director Tajul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the recovery of 16 bodies from the second and third floors. Officials believe many workers were unable to escape due to severe safety breaches:
• Early reports suggest the chemical warehouse was operating without proper safety permits.
• Fire officials noted that the factory emergency exits were either blocked or insufficient for quick evacuation.
The police and army have launched an investigation to locate the factory and warehouse owners, who are currently believed to be absconding.
Public Anger Mounts Over Recurring Tragedies
Interim head of government, Muhammad Yunus, expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and ordered a full investigation, directing authorities to provide immediate assistance to victims families. However, public anger is escalating over the recurrence of industrial fires.
The Dhaka Tribune sharply criticized the government and industry in an editorial titled “We remain incapable of putting out fires,” arguing that little changes on the ground despite promises of reform. The paper called for confronting “deep-rooted failures” in regulation enforcement, the culture of impunity among factory owners, and the chronic underfunding of safety agencies.
The tragedy reopens painful memories of the 2012 Tazreen Fashions fire (over 100 dead) and the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse (over 1,100 dead), disasters that were meant to spur lasting reforms. Experts now warn that the efforts spurred by international pressure have waned, and many high-risk facilities are still operating without meeting basic safety standards.
Call for Comprehensive Overhaul
The garment industry is the lifeblood of Bangladesh’s economy, employing about four million workers and contributing nearly 80 percent of the country’s export earnings. But this economic success continues to come at a devastating human cost due to poorly constructed facilities, overcrowded floors, and inadequate fire safety systems.
Experts and labor activists are demanding a comprehensive overhaul of industrial safety regulations. They emphasize the need for:
• Stronger penalties for non-compliance.
• Mandatory verification of adequate fire exits, alarm systems, and emergency response training in every factory.
• Relocating chemical warehouses and garment factories from densely populated urban zones.
Global buyers are also urged to insist on accountability and transparency from their suppliers as sustainable supply chains cannot be built on unsafe workplaces. The Mirpur fire serves as a grim reminder that the promise of “never again” remains fragile unless systemic reform replaces profit-driven neglect.