Bangladesh PM Hasina flees country, military takes over

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule of the country ended on Monday as she fled weeks of deadly protests and the military announced it would form an interim government.

Hasina had sought since early July sought to quell nationwide protests against her government, but she fled after a brutal day of unrest on Sunday in which nearly 100 people died.

In a broadcast to the nation on state television, Bangladesh's army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman said on Monday Hasina had resigned and the military would form an interim government.

"The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed -- it is time to stop the violence," Waker said.

"I hope after my speech, the situation will improve."

Hasina, 76, fled the country by helicopter, a source close to the leader told the media shortly after protesters had stormed her palace in Dhaka.

"Her security team asked her leave, she did not find any time to prepare", the source said.

The source adding she left first by motorcade but then was flown out, without saying her destination. "She was later evacuated on a helicopter."

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pose for a photograph.

Jubilant looking crowds had waved flags, some dancing on top of a tank in the streets on Monday morning before hundreds broke through the gates of Hasina's official residence.

Bangladesh's Channel 24 broadcast images of crowds running into the compound, waving to the camera as they celebrated.

Others smashed a statues of Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahma, the country's independence hero.

Bangladesh's army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman would address the nation on Monday afternoon, a military spokesman told AFP without giving further details.

Police officer uses tear gas to disperse student protestors in Bogura on Sunday. AFP

Before the protesters had stormed the compound, Hasina's son urged the country's security forces to block any takeover from her 15-year rule.

"Your duty is to keep our people safe and our country safe and to uphold the constitution," her son, US-based Sajeeb Wazed Joy, said in a post on Facebook.

"It means don't allow any unelected government to come in power for one minute, it is your duty."

Security forces had supported Hasina's government throughout the unrest, which began last month against civil service job quotas then escalated into wider calls for her to stand down.

But the protesters defied curfews and deadly force.

Police carry a wounded police officer during a clash at the Karwan Bazar area in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reuters

At least 94 people were killed on Sunday, including 14 police officers, in the deadliest day of the unrest.

Protesters and government supporters countrywide battled each other with sticks and knives, and security forces opened fire.

The day's violence took the total number of people killed since protests began in early July to at least 300, according to an AFP tally based on police, government officials and doctors at hospitals.

Waker told officers on Saturday that the military "always stood by the people", according to an official statement.

The military declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest and installed a military-backed caretaker government for two years.

Agence France-Presse