An overloaded ferry carrying more than 1,000 passengers has capsized in southern Bangladesh, killing at least 33 people and leaving 100 others missing.

The accident happened Saturday as passengers were disembarking from the MV Coco-4 at a station at Nazirhat town in the coastal district of Bhola, 104 km (64 miles) outside the capital Dhaka.

Most of the passengers managed to swim to shore but rescue workers are still searching for survivors. Medics said some of those rescued were in critical condition.

"It [the ferry] was overcrowded with over 1,000 passengers. It tilted and part of it sank due to crowd pressure as it arrived near the Nazirpur river station," police chief Zakir Hossain was quoted by AFP as saying.

Bangladesh relies heavily on ferry services, which are cheaper sources of travel across the delta nation of 150 million people.

Ferry accidents are commonplace in Bangladesh and are largely blamed on overcrowding and unsafe vessels.

JR/SC/MMN