Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left Bangladesh on Monday amid widening unrest in the country. 

Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff Gen Waker-Uz-Zaman addressed the nation after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country. 

Waker-Uz-Zaman said an interim government will be formed on Monday. He asked the protestors to give time for electing a new government and avoid violence.

"PM Sheikh Hasina has resigned. Interim government to run the country. Country is witnessing revolution. Interim government to be formed in Bangladesh. Please cooperate. We won’t achieve anything through violence, all excesses will be investigated," says Bangladesh Army chief. 

He promised that the military would stand down, and to launch an investigation into the deadly crackdowns that fueled outrage against the government, and asked citizens for time to restore peace.

“Keep faith in the military, we will investigate all the killings and punish the responsible,” he said. “I have ordered that no army and police will indulge in any kind of firing.”

“Now, the students’ duty is to stay calm and help us," he added.

The protests began peacefully in late June, as students sought an end to a quota system for government jobs, but turned violent after clashes between protesters and police and pro-government activists at Dhaka University.

The government’s attempts to quell the demonstrations with force, curfews and internet shutdowns backfired, prompting further outrage as nearly 300 people were killed and leading to demands for an end to her 15 years in power.

On Sunday, nearly 100 people were killed as the protesters clashed with security officials and the ruling party activists across the country. (With inputs from AP)