A Syrian rebel fighter salutes locals chanting slogans in support of the anti-regime uprising in the Shaar district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo which was overrun by the rebel forces on Thursday. — AFP photo

Bangladesh archer Emdadul Haque Milon takes aim during training ahead of the Olympics at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Indian disabled children suffering from the effects of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, wait to participate in a march during a ‘Special Olympics’ in Bhopal on Thursday. — AFP photo

From right, Information minister Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Anisuzzaman and Shamsuzzaman Khan observe one minute silence in memory of popular litterateur Humayun Ahmed in the commemoration programme organised by Bangla Acdemy on Thursday. — Indrajit Ghosh

US swimming great Michael Phelps (C) looks at his hands as he talks to the reporters during a promotional event in London on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Fireworks explode over the Olympic stadium in the Olympic park during the last rehearsal of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London on Wednesday. — AFP photo

Civil servants hold ‘No to cuts’ placards as they take part in a protest against government austerity measures outside Madrid’s town hall on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Fire fighters extinguish a fire that broke out at Baku Shah Market of Nilkhet in the capital on Thursday night. — Ali Hossain Mintu

Shoppers try out high end massage chairs in a luxury shopping mall in Shanghai on Thursday. Chinese shoppers are increasingly buying luxury goods in mainland China, turning away from high-end stores abroad and in Hong Kong, a survey indicated. — AFP photo

Brazilian forward Marta (R) celebrates after scoring from a penalty spot with her team-mates Fabiana (L), Cristiane (2nd-L) and Maurine during their women’s Group E match against Cameroon at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

Romanian gymnastics legend Nadia Comaneci poses for a photo in front of the Orbit tower and the Olympic Stadium in London on Wednesday. — Internet photo

MAIN NEWS

Govt asks owners not to close RMG units in Ramadan

The government on Thursday directed the apparel factory owners not to close any of their units in Ramadan and to pay workers before Eid-ul-Fitr to head off any disorder in the export-oriented sector. Full story

Govt insists on 60pc increase

The government persistently keeps pressuring the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission to increase the bulk power price by at least 60 per cent at one go to avoid any further hike at... Full story

JICA’s meeting with WB inconclusive

A meeting between the World Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency in Washington on Wednesday to end the stalemate over the Padma Bridge project ended ... Full story

PM accuses WB of corruption

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the World Bank of putting persistent pressure on the government to award a company with work order for the Padma Bride project in exchange of bribe. Full story

NATIONAL

Erosion intensifies flood-hit people's plight

River erosion situation in different districts of the northern region aggravated the flood affected peoples’ plight as thousands of them living along the river banks lost the homes and farmland. Full story

JS panel to seek legal opinion on compensation from Guimet

METRO

Dealers concerned over low-quality TCB goods

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh dealers in Rajshahi have expressed concern over the substandard goods they are being supplied with for sale in open markets. Full story

Asian univs sign deal on research

BUSINESS

Only 45pc of committed foreign loans disbursed in FY 2012

The foreign lenders and development partners have disbursed only 45 per cent or $2,033.44 million, as loans and grants, out of the sum of $4,497.79 million that they had committed to Bangladesh in the just... Full story

BB extends time for 13 failed NBFIs

INTERNATIONAL

Clashes in Aleppo, as rebels, regime send forces

Fighting raged in Syria’s second city Aleppo on Thursday afternoon, a watchdog said, as regime forces and rebels sent reinforcements to the embattled city. Intermittent clashes were also reported in the southern belt of Damascus, with the Britain-based... Full story

Bhopal victims protest against Dow with own ‘Games’

SPORTS

Milon blessed by Waugh before Lord’s ‘Test’

A meeting with Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh at Lord’s cricket ground is a great dream for any cricketer and perhaps more than that if he happens to be a Bangladeshi. The two times when Bangladesh played a Test match at this hallowed home... Full story

A sour end to Tigers tour of Europe

EDITORIAL

Arbitrary house rent hike, inflation and labour unrest

It is quite heartening to see that the labour and manpower minister on... Full story

Stringent measures against unruly DMCH interns called for

OP-ED

Tears for Humayun Ahmed

Professor Humayun Ahmed, who earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from North Dakota State University, and who was one-third scientist, one-third writer, and one-third filmmaker, died at the age of 64 on Thursday night in the United States after... Full story

The London Olympics: Capitalism in Action

TIMEOUT

Exploring Humayun Ahmed as a painter

Many of Humayun Ahmed fans do not know that the popular writer-playwright-director was also a skilled painter. And the number of his paintings is more than that of his literary works. In the last 10 years of his life, Humayun Ahmed painted over... Full story

Movie industry is at risk

LETTERS

New high-yield rice developed

A report, along with a photograph published in a local English daily on 26th July, reveals a nationally important breakthrough for Bangladesh agricultural productivity. It discusses the recent development of the Binadhan-9 rice. Full story