A day of calm ends with strong threat

FE Report
The 39th day of an indefinite blockade Friday saw a relative calm-evidently for weekly holiday coinciding with the advent of springtime-but the respite ended with a threat of a tougher movement soon.        
Reports said the blockade, called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, passed off sans major untoward incidents, save one in Gazipur.
City-dwellers witnessed a busy day as the day coincided with the first day of spring, weekend and end of a 120-hour shutdown.
But, later in the day, the alliance threatened to go for a "civil disobedience and non-cooperation movement" very soon against what they said government's "repressive acts".
"The illegal, unelected and fascist Awami regime has kept Bangladesh besieged through absolute misuse of state power. Agitating people will be compelled to launch lawbreaking and non-cooperation movement against the illegal government," said a statement signed by BNP Joint Secretary-General Salahuddin Ahmed, listing the alleged acts of repression.
Vehicular movement in the capital was normal on the day while a large number of law enforcers remained deployed in different parts of the capital to fend off any trouble.
No picketing had been seen till the filing of this report around 7.30pm in the city on Friday. There were no reports of incidents of major violence across the country as well.
However, the night before the day of calm saw some acts of violence: three people were hurt in a gunfight with police in Laxmipur, a truck helper was injured as miscreants attacked a truck in Jhenidah and two other people injured in police firing in Gazipur.
A truck helper, identified as Aminur Rahman, 27, was injured on Jhenidah-Magura highway on the night as miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at the truck around 3am.
Three young men suspected as criminals received bullets in a 'gunfight' with police on Chandraganj-Chatkhali road under Sadar upazila in Laxmipur.
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