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Even 48 hours after the incident, toxic fumes were coming out of the burnt chemical warehouse in the capital's Mirpur area on Thursday.
The Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) continued their operation and warned people of poisonous gases on Thursday.
They also formed a seven-member probe committee to investigate the cause and other aspects of the fire.
During a visit to the area, it was found that firemen were making efforts using their equipment, while thick and acrid smoke was billowing from the site of the damaged warehouse.
FSCD Assistant Director of Dhaka division Kazi Nazmuzzaman told reporters the fire in the chemical storage produced highly toxic gases, including chlorine, which had now been mixed with the surrounding air.
"These gases are dangerous for human health. Continuous exposure can cause breathing difficulties, lung and heart complications, and severe skin irritation," he warned.
"The situation is especially risky in this densely-populated residential area."
He urged residents of the neighbourhood to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and cover their noses and mouths with wet cloths when outside.
Mr Nazmuzzaman also said the fire-fighting operation was proving unusually difficult due to the volatile chemical substances stored in the warehouse.
"When chemicals are not stored according to safety protocols, they can react with one another, producing explosive heat or poisonous fumes," he said.
He said firefighters remained stationed around the site, spraying water and foam to cool down hotspots and prevent further explosions.
"The situation is delicate. We are proceeding cautiously," he said.
The residents living near Shialbari reported burning eyes, coughing, and shortness of breath, as thick smoke continued to hang in the air.
Meanwhile, Director (operations and maintenance) of the fire service Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury will lead the probe committee.
The six other members of the committee are Professor of chemical engineering at BUET Dr Md Easir Arafat Khan, FSCD Deputy Director of Dhaka division Md Saleh Uddin, Deputy Assistant Director Atish Chakma, PO-cum-Adjutant at Fire Service and Civil Defence Training Complex in Dhaka's Mirpur Md Saidul Alam Chowdhury, FSCD Warehouse Inspector Sohrab Hossain, and Senior Station Officer of Mohammadpur Fire Service Station Md Fasir Uddin.
The fire, which broke out on Tuesday in the building housing Cosmic Pharma's chemical go-down and a garment factory, claimed at least 16 lives.
On Thursday afternoon, a four-member expert committee led by Senior General Manager of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation Monzur Reza visited the scene.
On Wednesday, a family member of a deceased worker filed a case against two individuals, including the owner of the warehouse Shah Alam, with the Rupnagar Police Station.
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