Mita Haque, right, renders a solo while Surtirtha artistes present a Tagore song in chorus on Saturday at the Bangladesh National Museum. -- Snigdha Zaman

Garbage floats in the river Buriganga… The noisome pollution from chemical waste of mills and factories, home waste, medical waste, sewage, dead animals, plastics, and oil has made the Buriganga a dead river. As a result of overexploitation by the population of Dhaka city, the extent of pollution is so extreme that there is no fish or aquatic life in this river.— Sanaul Haque

Yitzhak Shamir, Ehud Olmert

A file photo shows farmers carrying harvested paddy at a village on the outskirts of Dhaka. All banks collectively disbursed Tk 13,136.91 crore, or 95 per cent of the target, in farm loans in the just concluded financial year of 2011-2012. — Focusbangla photo

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, poses with student councillors at the Primary School Students’ Council Conference 2012 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka on Sunday. — New Age photo

Beximco Pharma players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Gemcon Group in the final of the Ascent Corporate Soccer Cup at the STM Hall of Scholastica School in Uttara on Saturday. — Soni Ramani

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith speaks as chief guest at the inaugural session of the two-day IGC South Asia Growth Conference at a hotel in the capital on Sunday. — New Age photo

The Dhaka University Teachers’ Association places a wreath on the coffin of architect Muzharul Islam at the fine arts faculty building on Sunday. — New Age photo

A hawker distributes newspapers in knee-high water on a Chittagong road after torrential rain submerged most of the city areas on Sunday. — New Age photo

Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

A file picture taken on March 11, 2012 shows Russian gold medal winner Yelena Isinbayeva competing during the women’s pole vault final at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships at the Atakoy Athletics Arena in Istanbul. — AFP photo

Japan’s ambassador to Bangladesh Shiro Sadoshima talks to diplomatic correspondents at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Sunday. — New Age photo

Dhaka city unit leaders of the BNP-led alliance address a rally at Naya Paltan in the capital on Sunday, demanding non-partisan caretaker government and protesting at price hike of essential commodities. — New Age photo

New Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas vowed to bring home the trophies for the North London club. — Internet photo

MAIN NEWS

2 workers killed in Ansar firing in Kushtia

Two people were killed when Ansars opened fire on the workers of Akij Bidi Factory staging demonstrations for pay hike at Daulatpur in Kushtia on Sunday. The incident also left 30 workers injured. Full story

BERC public hearing on PDB price hike proposal today

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission holds a public hearing today on a power board proposal for increasing the bulk rate of electricity by 50 per cent with effect from July 1. Full story

Rain halts life in Ctg again

A second spell of monsoon downpour hit Chittagong early Sunday flooding many areas and halting life in the port city. The city’s Chawkbazar, Bakolia, Chandgaon, Panchlaish, Agrabad, Halishahar, Muradpur and... Full story

Drug lords Amin Huda, Ahsanul jailed for 79 years

A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced businessman Amin Huda and his partner Ahsanul Haque Hasan to 79 years in prison each for manufacturing and selling banned drug Yaba. Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal judge Mohammad ... Full story

NATIONAL

PM backs PSSC to groom up students with leadership quality

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Sunday said the decision of the present government for constituting Primary School Student Council would help build country’s future leadership from primary school level as well as groom up students with democratic mind and discipline. Full story

Architect Muzharul Islam laid to rest

METRO

HC asks govt to stop use of chemical in foods

The High Court on Sunday directed the government to explain in two weeks why it should not be directed to take effective measures to stop the use of toxic chemicals in food stuff. Full story

Teams formed to monitor markets in Ctg

BUSINESS

Banks disburse 95pc of farm loan target in FY12

All banks collectively disbursed Tk 13,136.91 crore, or 95 per cent of the target, in farm loans in the just concluded financial year of 2011-2012, according to the Bangladesh Bank data to be released today. Full story

Banks’ financing to power sector hits pvt sector credit: Muhith

INTERNATIONAL

25 killed as Syrian troops pound rebel strongholds

Syrian troops bombarded several rebel areas in several parts of the country on Sunday killing at least 25 people, a watchdog said, as an AFP correspondent reported shelling near Aleppo. Full story

Hillary meets Egypt gens after urging transition

SPORTS

Tigers Tour of Europe begins today

The Bangladesh national cricket team are looking forward to adapting themselves to the Irish conditions when they begin their campaign for the twin tour of Europe today with... Full story

Beximco Pharma retain Ascent Soccer title

EDITORIAL

No room to neglect access to safe drinking water

Despite much awareness-building and numerous... Full story

Genuine emphasis on science, technology still missing

OP-ED

Population vs. resource: living within limit

ON OCTOBER 31, 2011, with the birth of Oishee at 12:01am in Bangladesh, the UNFPA and the government of Bangladesh celebrated the arrival of the seventh billionth global citizen on... Full story

The most successful terrorist of the 20th century?

TIMEOUT

Rayhan wins award in Spain

LETTERS

Auto-rickshaw strike

DRIVERS of compressed natural gas-run auto-rickshaws in the capital called off Saturday night an indefinite strike, which they had called to press home their 10 demands and which had caused... Full story