Dhaka  - Thousands of people were left homeless as heavy monsoon-driven rains lashed rice and vegetable terraces in remote hamlets across Bangladesh on Wednesday, officials said.

An active monsoon set off torrents, triggering flash floods in six districts that submerged thatched homes, schools and marketplaces in low-lying villages, according to the central flood monitoring office.

The downpours threw five rivers, including the Brahmaputra, into spate with swirling waters, eroding the fragile banks.

A spokesman for the association of fishing trawlers in the southern seaport of Chittagong said six of their boats were missing since late Tuesday. He gave no further details.

"Under the influence of moderate to strong monsoon over the Bay of Bengal heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at many places in both north and south Bangladesh until Friday," said Sadekul Islam of the Met Office in the capital Dhaka.

Islam said Dhaka recorded 68 millimetres of rainfall on Tuesday with more rains expected until the weekend. Road transport in the usually bustling city was suspended as rains were Wednesday causing havoc with flooded streets and thoroughfares. (dpa)