The Coast Guard and civil administration recovered most of the bodies from different points on the coast stretching from Patuakhali to Khulna, the sources said adding adverse weather was hampering rescue work.

Navy official Lieutenant Commander Firoz Kabir also remained missing as the patrol boat, BNS Shaheed Farid, carrying him, overturned in the bay. The storm triggered by low pressure in the bay swept over the southwest coastal areas of Bangladesh. It also razed shanties erected by fishermen in at least 16 villages.

The MeT office said that the low pressure was likely to intensify further and move in the northwesterly direction.

All boats and vessels have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice. Reports from Khulna said the storms also destroyed least 16 fishermen's villages on the coast and Sundarbans.

Coastguards and forest officials rescued at least 130 fishermen from different points.

At least 100 trawlers carrying 1,000 people who were engaged in fishing in deep bay were yet to return to the shore. Attempts to find those missing was hampered by gusty winds and high water level.