Everyone in the town, whether a law enforcer or a lawyer, a judge or a government official, is in the grip of constant fear of fresh terror attacks. People eye each other suspiciously, spy on every stranger, apprehending a bomber striking again anytime, anywhere.

The weekend life in the district town yesterday was entirely different from other Fridays. Shops that used to remain open on weekend kept their shutters down. And the usually busy roads were almost deserted.

Abdus Sattar, who risked opening his shop near the court, said the terror strikes have completely choked off his earning.

Law enforcers in bulletproof vests were frisking pedestrians and commuters on the town's main thoroughfare. The police patrolled the roads. Along with them, plainclothesmen and members of Armed Police Battalion and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) stood guard in front of the courts, the office of the deputy commissioner and other key structures.

No-one could pass by any key point without a thorough body search, leave alone any bag or anything else he was carrying.

In most cases, the police avoided coming too close to the people that looked suspicious to them. From a little distance, they first asked the suspects to show if anything was hidden under their clothes. The police also made them open their bags to make sure nothing unwanted was inside.

"Our duty is no longer protecting the people only. We also have to safeguard ourselves, as law enforcers are also being attacked," a constable told The Daily Star.

The local journalists also seemed to be a little reluctant to take any risk in carrying out their duties, as eight of them received death threats from the Islamist terrorist outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) on Wednesday.

"Previously, we would overlook any such threats. But, everything is changed now. We believe the Islamist militants may attack us at any moment," said a reporter, asking not to be named.

District Superintendent of Police (SP) Atiqur Rahman told The Daily Star they are taking every possible measure to ensure public security. Pointing out some lacks and limitations of the police force, the SP said with the existing resources they can take preventive steps only.

A lawyer said as the JMB has selected the judiciary as target the lawyers now feel the most vulnerable and do not gather anymore.

Since the first suicide attack on Tuesday, activities at the courts have remained suspended and the second attack on Thursday has made it more uncertain when that will resume.

JANAZA AND BURIAL
The Namaj-e-Janaza of Gazipur Sub-assistant Agricultural Officer Abul Kashem Ali Sarker, 40, killed in Thursday's suicide bombing, was held at his Surabari village under Kashempur in the district at 4:30pm yesterday. He was going to the DC office to collect his salary when the bomb blast claimed his life.

Thousands of people including lawmaker Jahid Hassan Rusell and former minister Prof MA Mannan attended the burial service. Sarker was buried in his family graveyard.

The death of the lone breadwinner of a five-member family left his wife Aleya Sharmin in grave uncertainty. Aleya cursed the attackers, terming them non-Muslims and demanding their harsh punishment.

Sarker left behind his daughter Farhana Yasmin Maya, an undergraduate student, and two sons Asaduzzaman Rony and Samsuzzaman Johny both HSC students.

THE INJURED
About 20 people wounded in the twin attacks were still undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) yesterday. The conditions of all, except one, have improved, hospital sources said.

The conditions of the other bomb victims admitted to Gazipur Sadar Hospital were also reported to be improving.

The condition of the suicide bomber, Abdur Razzak, being treated at the prison cell in the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) is improving too, doctors said. Razzak suffered critical injuries in his legs in the blast.

Security has been beefed up at the DMCH and Nitor since Thursday night. In addition to the 15 regular policemen of the DMCH camp, 44 law enforcers including 10 policewomen were deployed at the DMCH.

Thirty law enforcers, both in uniform and in plainclothes, have been deployed at the Nitor, where Jhalakathi suicide bomber Mamun is also under treatment.

CASES FILED
Gazipur police on Thursday night filed two more cases -- one under the Explosive Substances Act and the other for an attempt to murder -- in connection to the second bomb strike. Sub-inspector Feroj Talukdar filed the cases with Sadar Police Station.

The filing of a murder case was also underway yesterday.

Gazipur police meanwhile have picked up eight people suspecting their involvement in the attacks and are quizzing them.