The heaviest rainfall in 53 years left at least 10 people dead and thousands stranded in floods across Bangladesh's capital.

Dhaka residents were still escaping the rain on Thursday while traffic ground to a halt with 80 percent of roads underwater.

The national weather office said more than 33cm of rain fell in the city within 12 hours - the most in a single day since 1956.

Thousands in low-lying areas of the city were isolated, while 10 people were electrocuted by broken power lines in their homes.

Some residents are frustrated at the situation.

[Shakina Begum, Resident]:
"We are now stuck in rain water. The whole area is flooded. We are facing a serious shortage of drinking water, our children can't go to school, and we can't go shopping. We are facing a serious problem and can't go anywhere."

Forecasts are for more rain in the next few days.

Flooding caused by monsoon rains is common in Bangladesh, a delta nation of 150 million people.