DHAKA (AFP) - AT LEAST seven people were killed and dozens missing as a Bangladeshi ferry packed with more than 1,000 passengers going home to celebrate Eid-ul Adha listed and partly sank late Friday, police said.

The accident occurred as the MV Coco-4, one of the country's largest inland vessels, was coming in to a river station on Bhola island, local police chief Zakir Hossain told AFP by phone. 'It 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,' he said.

Police, fire brigade and local people rushed to the remote coastal village about 250 kilometres (155 miles) south of Dhaka to rescue the people trapped under water.

'So far we have recovered seven dead bodies including four children. Scores of people who were staying in the cabins remain unaccounted for,' said inspector Saiful Islam. He said firefighters and volunteers were using gas torches to cut open the cabins.

Police said most of the passengers managed to swim ashore after the three-deck ferry listed following a stampede. 'Survivors told us that they became panicked and rushed to disembark after hearing a loud noise at the bottom deck,' said Mr Islam.

The ferry set off from Dhaka Friday afternoon with the passengers travelling to their village homes to celebrate the three-day Eid-ul Adha festival, the second largest Muslim celebration.

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