Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country overnight amid deadly protests.

The nation’s army has announced an interim government will be formed following Hasina’s resignation

Recent protests have called for Hasina to step down. Military chief general Waker-Uz-Zaman called for calm following clashes between police and demonstrators see that have left nearly 300 people dead.

According to the ABC six people have been killed in clashes this Monday.

Waker-Uz-Zaman confirmed the former prime minister’s departure in a televised address today and further talks will occur with President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Hasina fled the nation via helicopter and has landed in India where, as reported by the Guardian, she plans to apply for asylum abroad.

Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy told the BBC that Hasina fled the country for her own safety.

After news that Hasina had evacuated the nation became public, protestors stormed her official residence in Dhaka, the nation’s capital, looting a variety of Hasina’s belongings including televisions and furniture.

Peaceful demonstrations in Bangladesh began in July in protest of quotas for government jobs that favoured specific groups such as war heroes.

Courts in the nation scrapped the quotas on the 21 July but the aims of the movement grew to include removing the former prime minister and violence broke out following the suppression of demonstrators.

Photo: Sheikh Hasina by Global Panorama is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.