WB’s leading economist in Dhaka Sanjay Kathuria and senior economist Zahid Hussain are seen at a post-budget discussion in Dhaka on Wednesday. — New Age photo

Speakers at the press conference.— New Age photo

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd-L) trains with his team-mates at the team’s base camp in Opalenica near Poznan on Wednesday. — AFP photo

A chorus presents Tagore song Eso Shyamalo Sundaro on Tuesday at the Music and Dance Centre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. — Snigdha Zaman

Jordan striker Mahmoud Za’tara (C) scores with a spectacular side volley against Bangladesh during their AFC Under-22 Championship match at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday. – Internet photo

Jatiya Nagarik Sangsad holds a roundtable at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Wednesday on the relevance of the caretaker government for holding impartial elections. — New Age photo

The prime minister, flanked on both sides by the conquerors of the Mount Everest, poses for a photograph at her office in the capital on Wednesday. — Focusbangla photo

A man stokes up fire after apparel workers burnt two buses at Agrabad in Chittagong on Wednesday in protest at the death of a fellow in a traffic accident. — New Age photo

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (C) celebrates with fans at the end of their Euro 2012 match against France at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Tuesday. — AFP photo

Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange rally with placards outside Ecuador’s embassy in central London on Wednesday, where Assange is seeking political asylum as he fights extradition to Sweden over alleged sex crimes. Assange, who last week exhausted all his legal options in Britain, walked into the embassy on June 19 and applied for political asylum, as time ran out in his marathon legal battle to avoid being sent to Sweden.— AFP photo

English forward Wayne Rooney (R) scores the winning goal against Ukraine during their Euro 2012 match at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk on Tuesday. — Reuters photo

Hosni Mubarak

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) side volleys to score a stunning goal against France during their Euro 2012 match at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Tuesday. — AFP photo

LATEST

MAIN NEWS

Owners agree to reopen apparel units today

Apparel factory owners at a meeting with the government on Wednesday agreed to reopen their units in the Ashulia industrial zone today after a four-day closure in the wake of a week-long... Full story

Biman’s dues stand at Tk 14 crore

Loss-making Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ woes deepened further as its outstanding dues from the ministries, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have remained unrealised for long, said its officials. Full story

Rally against Rohingyas in Teknaf marks World Refugee Day

Demonstrations by people living in areas around refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday marked the observance of World Refugee Day with a demand for the repatriation of Myanmar citizens and... Full story

Extension of FFs’ retirement age by another 2 years proposed

The government has initiated a move to further extend the retirement age of the freedom fighters in public service by two years. Around 11,782 officials and employees, already listed as freedom fighters... Full story

NATIONAL

Confusion over judge’s identity led to assault, police tell HC

Confusion over the identify of joint district judge Imman Ali Sheikh caused the assault on him at the Narsingdi district court on June 10, said three police officers in the High Court on Wednesday. Full story

Charge hearing deferred to July 3

METRO

Cracks not repaired

The authorities concerned are yet to mend the cracks in the Rajshahi town protection embankment, putting the city dwellers at risk. A growing sense of uncertainty is evident among the city people as there can ... Full story

Sufia Kamal’s birth anniv observed

BUSINESS

Getting $2.3b foreign aid in FY13 improbable: WB

The World Bank on Wednesday expressed doubt about availability of the expected foreign aid in the new fiscal year, which shows that a quick solution to the dispute between it and the government over the Padma Bridge graft is unlikely. Sanjay Kathuria, the... Full story

Banks rush to borrow costly money from BB

INTERNATIONAL

46 dead in Syria as UN monitors say ‘obliged’ to stay

Twenty-nine soldiers were among 46 people killed in violence in Syria on Wednesday, a rights group said, as UN observers said they were ‘morally obliged’ to stay in the country despite the risks. Full story

Taliban suicide attack hits NATO, kills 21

SPORTS

SA’s shock defeat to hosts makes Tigers’ job harder

Bangladesh’s hopes of making the final of tri-series Twenty20 tournament in Zimbabwe received a jolt when the home side shocked South Africa by 29 runs on Wednesday. Full story

Portuguese rally around Ronaldo

EDITORIAL

Incumbents owe people a credible explanation on new gas lines

THE contradictory statements on Tuesday by the energy adviser to the... Full story

Deterrent actions against corporal punishment called for

TIMEOUT

Group exhibition features diversified works

A variety of artistic works by a total of 13 artists from 1979 batch of the faculty of fine arts, Dhaka University fascinate the art lovers at the ongoing weeklong art exhibition at Gallery Cosmos-2 in the capital’s Mohakhali area. The accomplished artists have... Full story

Tagore dance festival begins tomorrow

LETTERS

Killing of truth

A LETTER to editor, on the killing of a journalist killing, was published in a local English-language daily on June 18. It was in effect the ‘killing of truth’ in Bangladesh. The government just cannot wash it away or ignore... Full story