Shah Alam, owner of Alam Traders -- the chemical warehouse where a massive fire killed 16 people on October 14 -- remains at large since he went into hiding on the day of the incident.

Running his unlicensed business for 15 years in Mirpur's Shialbari area, Alam expanded operations steadily over the years without facing any resistance, workers and locals said.

Eleven days after the tragedy, law enforcers are yet to arrest the 60-year-old.

Contacted, Mokhlesur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Rupnagar Police Station, told The Daily Star they have been looking for Alam but could not trace him yet.

"We found two more chemical warehouses in the next lane. All chemical traders in the area are on the run," he said, adding that they are also investigating how the business was operated.

After the fire, toxic fumes hung over the area for several days, posing serious health risks to locals. The site has since remained cordoned off.

Saiful Islam, brother of garment worker Sanwar Hossain who died in the fire, filed a case against eight people, including Alam, on charges of death by negligence.

Rubel Alam, brother-in-law of 14-year-old victim Abdul Alim, said yesterday that they received the body three days ago after DNA tests.

Contacted, he told The Daily Star that they learnt after the incident that the chemicals had been stored illegally. "The owners of these warehouses cannot evade responsibility for so many deaths. They must face justice and provide compensation."

Visiting the area last week, our correspondent spoke to several residents and workers.

Abdul Motalib, president of a local unit of Sramik Dal who has lived in the area for four decades, said he had known Alam for 20 years. "He set up the chemical warehouse on Road No-4 some 15 years ago. A few years later, he shifted it to the next road."

The area is a densely packed hub of garment and packaging factories, washing plants, printing presses, and chemical warehouses, interspersed with residential buildings near Rupnagar Housing Estate and the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology campus.

Residents said Alam owns three residential buildings and three commercial plots in the area, located close to one another.

He lived on the second floor of a six-storey building and ran the chemical business from an office about 100 yards away.

Alam used to work from 9:00am to 11:00pm every day, supplying chemicals to clients in Ashulia, Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and different parts of Dhaka, they said, adding that administrative officials were often seen visiting his office.

Asked if Alam maintained connections with the administration, Inspector Mokhlesur said he was new at the police station and did not know about this.

Rafiqul Islam, security guard of Alam's house, said Alam and his family left the building on the afternoon of the incident and have not returned since.

Locals said they knew the chemicals were used for washing plants but were unaware of the risks.

Rakibul Islam, who runs a tea stall in the area, said Alam's rapid financial rise caught their attention, but they did not know his business was illegal.

"We thought bleaching and detergent powders were stored in the warehouse. We didn't know that such dangerous chemicals were there. People even used to spend leisure time next to the warehouse and smoke cigarettes."

He added that locals have now agreed that no chemical warehouses will be allowed in the area. "We want the administration to take tough action against this business."

Inspector Asadul Islam of the Department of Explosives earlier said no licences had been issued for chemical warehouses in Mirpur.

"Due to high demand from garments, dyeing, and washing plants, many warehouses have been set up illegally under the guise of licensed entities."

According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the warehouse was crammed with chemicals, and large quantities worth several crore taka had been delivered there just a day before the fire.

Mohammad Saleh Uddin, deputy director of the Fire Service and a member of the seven-member committee investigating the incident, said Alam Traders had no documents or approval to operate. "We've been trying to find Shah Alam to hear his version but couldn't locate him yet. The chemicals were mainly used for washing plants."

The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 working days. Two other probe bodies are also investigating the incident.