At least 33 people were feared dead and around 900 others went missing as 25 boats, 350 trawlers and a naval ship capsized in the Bay of Bengal when storms hit Bangladesh's coastal belt Tuesday evening, local news agency UNB reported Wednesday.

In southern Bagerhat district, over 300 fishermen and a naval commander were missing as some 100 fishing trawlers and a naval ship capsized in the Bay of Bengal in southern Bangladesh during a sudden storm Tuesday evening.

At least 30 fishermen were feared dead and rescue workers so far recovered six bodies of the victims.

A navy ship, "BNS Shaheed Farid", partly overturned in southwestern Khulna during the storm, leaving its commanding officer Lt Commander Firoz Kabir missing. Some 40 other people aboard the ship were safe.

Helicopters, naval ships and rescue boats on Wednesday were trying to rescue the missing naval commander and salvage the partly sunken ship.

Coastguard, Navy and Forest Department personnel jointly began rescue operations to recover the missing fishermen. But the rescue operations were being hampered due to rough weather in the Bay of Bengal.

In southeastern Chittagong district, at least 45 fishermen went missing as 25 fishing boats sank in the Bay of Bengal amid the bad weather Tuesday night.

According to the Boat Owners' Association of the district, the fishing boats, carrying some 70 fishermen capsized in the bay during the violent storm.

Later, 25 of the 70 fishermen were rescued. The survivors said they did not know what happened to the rest of their fellowmen.

In southern Patuakhali district, three fishermen were feared dead and 450 remained missing as over 50 trawlers capsized during storms Tuesday night.

In southern Pirojpur district, some 200 trawlers capsized in the bay during the storm on Tuesday night, leaving nearly 100 fishermen missing.

Source: Xinhua