Bangladeshi military chief General Waker-uz-Zaman announced a caretaker government on Monday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country amid violent nationwide protests.

Hundreds of people have been killed and injured in protests since July, which first demanded the abolition of quotas on government jobs and later the resignation of Hasina, who has been in power since 2009.

The 76-year-old is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh.

In an address to the nation after meeting political party leaders, Zaman said Hasina had resigned, called for peace and said there would be "no need" for martial law if normalcy returns to the South Asian nation. He vowed to investigate the deaths of the protesters.

He will then hold talks with the leaders of the student protest movement.

Meanwhile, leaders of opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, met President Mohammed Shahabuddin for talks.

Earlier, the students had dismissed any possibility of a military takeover. Asif Mahmud, a key coordinator of the ongoing demonstrations, said in a social media post that the students "will not accept military control".

A Bangladesh Air Force plane carrying Hasina, the leader of the ruling party, and her sister reportedly landed at an air force base in Ghaziabad, near the capital New Delhi. Hasina has not yet given any statement.

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval reportedly arrived at Hindon Air Base to meet Hasina.

Several Indian airlines also canceled their flights to Daka, while train services between the two countries also remain suspended. /AA