DHAKA, Feb 4: Thousands of opposition activists reached the Bangladesh capital on Saturday at the end of a ‘long march’ to pressure the government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to step down.

Addressing a press conference, Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina warned the government of dire consequences if it continues harassing opposition activists.

She alleged the government had launched a crackdown on the opposition throughout the country to foil the long marc.

The government has tightened security n and around Dhaka, ostensibly to prevent any sort of unwanted incident during the opposition’s protest.

As many as 8,000 security personnel have been deployed at different strategic points while plainclothesmen will monitor the marchers on the streets.

A 14-part combine has initiated the ‘long march’.