A devastating fire killed at least 44 and injured dozens more at a shopping mall in Bangladesh.

The blaze broke out on the ground floor of the seven-storey Green Cosy Cottage mall along the upmarket Bailey Road neighbourhood of the capital Dhaka late February 29 evening.

Dramatic footage shows a wall of flame engulfing the building's facade as burning debris fell to the ground.

The flames quickly spread to the upper floors, trapping scores of shoppers and diners at around 9:50 pm local time.

Fire officials have attributed the rapid spread to gas cylinders on several floors in the mall's restaurant kitchens.

Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen said 33 people, including women and children, were killed at the scene, while at least 10 more died during treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Another man was brought dead to the Central Police Hospital early Friday morning, bringing the death toll to 44.

Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun said 75 people, 42 of them unconscious, were rescued alive. Around 25 were seriously injured, he added.

The people reportedly had difficulties evacuating due to smoke hindering the fire exit stairwell.

Firefighters managed to contain the blaze at 12:30 am, revealing that most victims suffered burns and suffocation. Some of them were injured after leaping from the building.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined.