DHAKA -- An interim government will be set up to run Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned 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 her step-down.

"We would now go to the president to form an interim government," said Zaman.

There will be no need to declare a state of emergency if the situation gets better, said Zaman while calling for maintaining peace and order in the country.

He expressed hope that after his speech, the situation will improve.

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.