Calm reigns though blockade stays

An uneasy reigns on the political front as the countrywide indefinite transport blockade enforced by the BNP-led opposition continued sans events over the last two days.
Analysts believe the 20-party alliance's prolonged campaigns for fresh national polls-punctuated with incidents of violence-lost its steam as the BNP seemed busy tossing the merits of fighting the battles of ballot in the capital and in Chittagong. So happened also as Thursday was an important national holiday and Friday a weekend holiday for Juma prayers.
The blockade saw its 81st day passed off on Friday, with no major violence reported.
In the capital vehicular movement was normal. A large number of law enforcers remained deployed in different parts of the city to fend off any trouble.
No picketing or untoward situation had happened till filing the report at 8pm.
And BNP did not call hartal anew for the next week either, though it has happened for seven weeks at a stretch alongside the nonstop countrywide blockade.
After the disappearance of BNP joint secretary-general Salahuddin Ahmed, who had been announcing the programme from an undisclosed place, two weeks back, another joint secretary, Barkatullah Bulu, carried on the mantle.
Though the 20-party alliance renews its fresh programme usually on Fridays, this time around BNP did not repeat its hartal after seven weeks of such practice.
However, no spokesman from the alliance could be contacted to comment on the pause in strike.
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