An interim government will be set up to run Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on Monday amid protests in the South Asian country, according to army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman.

Zaman made the remarks in a broadcast to the nation on state television on Monday afternoon. He said Hasina has resigned, which confirmed media reports earlier about Hasina's step-down.

"We will form an interim government," said the army chief.

There will be no need to impose a state of emergency if the situation gets better, said Zaman.

Hasina, 76, took office for her fourth straight five-year term as the country's prime minister in January this year after her ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) party won a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections.