At least 25 Bangladeshi fishermen went missing as four trawlers with 48 fishermen aboard capsized after they were caught by a violent storm in the Bay of Bengal on Monday noon, private news agency UNB reported.

Survivors were quoted as saying that the trawlers sank as they were hit by huge waves triggered by the storm while they were fishing at different points of the Bay of Bengal.

Of the 48 fishermen, 23 were rescued with the help of other trawlers while a few others managed to swim ashore, the news agency said.

The missing fishermen were from Bangladesh's southern coastal districts of Bagerhat, Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola.

Coastguards were trying to trace the missing people.

Meanwhile, the sea has been very rough due to squally wind and its water level marked a rise by 2-4 feet (about 0.6-1.2 meter) above the normal astronomical tide.

Hundreds of fishermen along with their trawlers have taken shelter in different coastal areas of the country's southern coast, according to the UNB.

(Xinhua News Agency July 20, 2009)