AT LEAST three people died and scores of others were feared drowned after a ferry carrying more than 200 passengers capsized in central Bangladesh today.

The ferry MV Pinak-6 sank in the Padma river around 30 miles south of the capital Dhaka.

Local police chief Tofazzal Hossain said around two dozen passengers had managed to swim ashore, while several others had been rescued by locals. 

But Mr Hossain said up to 200 people may have died.

Bangladeshi ferries don’t usually maintain passenger lists, so it was still unclear how many people were aboard. 

But the Inland Water Transport Authority estimated it was carrying between 200 and 300 passengers.

Some of the rescued passengers told local television the boat had been overloaded and had overturned in a strong current mid-river.

More than four hours after the capsize, rescuers were still waiting for a larger vessel to launch a full operation in the rough waters.