The army was called out to assist the rescue attempts by police and local officials. Eight people who were rescued succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, senior ministers and top police officials visited the factory in Gazipur district, 32 km northwest of Dhaka, assuring relatives of those trapped inside of doing everything possible to rescue those trapped inside.
The building apparently caved in after a boiler exploded in a newly constructed garment and knitting unit, which occupied two floors and had upto 200 workers on the night shift, police and survivors said.