At least 17 people are dead and around 100 injured after two trains collided in Bangladesh on Monday.

Officials say a freight train smashed into the rear of a passenger train in Bhairab, some 80 kilometers northeast of the capital Dhaka. They say the passenger train was changing lines at the time.

Local residents joined police and firefighters to rescue the injured from damaged coaches.

Local fire chief Mohammad Masud said: "Many people got trapped inside after the collision. When it happened, most of the people died then."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed shock and affirmed the government's efforts to support family members of the victims.