Hundreds of Bangladeshi students wielding bamboo rods and patrolled the site of a planned gathering of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's supporters, vowing to quash any show of strength.

Hasina flew by helicopter last week to neighbouring India, where she has been reported to be taking refuge, as student protests flooded Dhaka's streets in a dramatic end to her 15-year rule.

This week marks the anniversary of the 1975 assassination of her father, independence hero Sheikh Rahman, who was killed during a military coup, a date her government had declared a national holiday.

Previous years saw huge rallies around Bangladesh to mark the occasion, but the students who toppled Hasina were eager to ensure supporters of her Awami League party did not have a chance to regroup.

Prominent student leader Sarjis Alam told reporters that Awami League will try to create chaos in the name of observing the "mourning day," stressing that the students would remain on the streets to resist any such attempts."

With no police in sight, hundreds of students patrolled the street leading into Hasina's old family home where her father and many of her relatives were gunned down nearly 50 years ago.

In her first public statement since her abrupt departure, Hasina had this week asked supporters to "pray for the salvation of all souls by offering floral garlands and praying" outside the landmark.

Thousands of civil servants were required to join public demonstrations marking her father's death during her tenure.