More than 5,000 people were injured in the worst-affected coastal belt, rescuers said as thousands of soldiers and civilian volunteers went into action.

At least 300 more bodies were located of people killed in Friday’s cyclone which triggered mudslides and flash floods.

Most deaths occurred in the Patuakhali-Barisal zone and offshore islands where nearly 450 people, including children, were found dead, said a spokesperson of the national flood warning and control centre.

Authorities meanwhile were still having problems restoring power after the national grid suffered heavily.

Cyclone Sidr of hurricane strength unleashed its full fury on the coastal belt, home to over 42,000 fishermen and their families.

The storm also struck Dhaka and its suburbs, killing 11 people and injuring 500 as trees were plucked and hurled by raging winds which packed speeds touching 250 kilometres and hour.

The national meteorological centre warned of further heavy rains across the country for the coming days.