BANGLADESHI POLICE AWAIT OPPOSITION MARCHERS TO PASS A BRIDGE IN ALENGA, 1999-05-17 (photo)

Paramilitary soldiers stand guard under a portrait of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the fringe of Bangabandhu Bridge over the river Jamuna, 125 km north of Dhaka, May 16 before thousands of opposition activists pass over the bridge during a "road march." The march across the country is intended to mount pressure on the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and call early elections. Authoritires first refused to allow the march to go over the bridge but later changed mind after opposition leaders ensured there would be no damage done to the five-km bridge opened last year. AN/CC