At least 17 people were wounded today when dozens of small bomb blasts rattled the capital Dhaka and districts across Bangladesh, police said, as authorities worked to count casualties and asses the damage from the explosions.

Two tornadoes tore through northern Bangladesh, killing at least 28 people, injuring nearly 900 and leaving thousands homeless, officials and news reports said today.

A river ferry carrying about 250 passengers capsized early today during a tropical storm in south-eastern Bangladesh and many were feared dead, police said.