The fire at the factory of pharmaceutical company Drug International Limited in Cherag Ali, Tongi, Gazipur, was brought under control around 2:00pm on Wednesday after the Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh joined the firefighting operation.
Firefighters were continuing damping-down operations at the factory, with officials saying it would take more time to fully extinguish the fire.
Fire Service and Civil Defence director general Brigadier General Sultanul Afreen Junaid confirmed the development on Wednesday afternoon.
He said the fire originated on the fourth floor of building and later spread throughout the building before reaching the adjacent building two through an internal connecting bridge.
The fire spread rapidly because the buildings contained flammable materials, including aluminum foil, rubber blocks and chemicals, Junaid said.
Several small explosions occurred inside the buildings during the initial firefighting operation, he added.
One firefighter was injured after being exposed to the smell of chlorine and other chemicals inside the buildings, he said.
At least 21 Fire Service units, including specialised chemical firefighting units, were deployed at the scene.
The fire broke out around 10:15am, and Fire Service personnel reached the factory at 10:25am, officials said.
Units from Uttara, Tongi, Gazipur Chourasta, Kurmitola, Rajendrapur and Purbachal fire stations joined the operation.
Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze as chemicals stored inside the factory, along with its steel and aluminium structure, hampered firefighting efforts.
At around 1:50pm, rescue teams reported a shortage of water at the scene, while dense smoke and chemical fumes engulfed the area.
Talha Bin Jasim, an official of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters' media cell, earlier told that the fire originated in the medicine production area before spreading throughout the building.
The cause of the fire could not be immediately determined.
Farzana Akter, an official of the company, told that around 300 workers and employees were at the factory when the fire broke out. To the best of their knowledge, everyone managed to get out before the fire spread, she said.
Talha said the Fire Service had received no information about anyone being trapped inside the factory.
Junaid said the factory manufactured powder, injectable and dry-form medicines.
The Fire Service initially confirmed that the factory had a fire safety licence. However, Junaid said authorities would investigate whether the licence had been renewed and was up to date.
FP/A
