A Syrian family, who evacuated their home due to shelling by regime forces, gather inside a cave where they have taken refuge in Ain al-Zarka northeast of Syria on Monday. — AFP photo

Barisal Burners batsman Shabbir Rahman plays a shot during his 69 from 35 balls in their Bangladesh Premier League match against Rangpur Riders at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna on Wednesday. — Sourav Loskar

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, addresses a press conference on her Russia visit at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday. — BSS photo

President Barack Obama speaks during swearing-in ceremonies on the west front of the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 21. — Reuters photo

A scene from jatra pala Swamir Chita Jolchhe staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall on Tuesday. — Ali Hossain Mintu

Students in practise at the dance workshop. — Snigdha Zaman

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith visits a stall of plastic goods after inaugurating the 8th International Plastic Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on Wednesday. — New Age photo

Bulldozer of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha pulls down illegal structures on the bank of the Gulshan Lake in the capital Wednesday. — New Age photo

Sonia Bashir Kabir (2nd -R), the chief executive officer of Dell Computers, speaks at a press conference while Rubaba Daula, the president of Bangladesh Badminton Federation, and Farhan Quddus, the chief executive of the event management company Excalibur Entertainment, look on at a city hotel on Wednesday. — New Age photo

Lafarge Surma Cement chief executive officer Tarek Elba presides over a customer conference on the occasion of the launching of the company’s new theme styled ‘Grow and Beyond’ for the year 2013 at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital recently. — New Age photo

Tunisian forward Youssef Msakni (L) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the winning goal against Algeria during their African Cup of Nations match at Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg on Tuesday. — AFP photo

MAIN NEWS

PM defends arms purchase

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday defended the purchase of military weapons worth $1 billion from Russia for strengthening the armed forces and making them capable of safeguarding the nation’s independence and sovereignty. ‘It is futile to become a king without swords and shields,’ she said in a rebuttal to critics who questioned the efficacy of arms purchase... Full story

Govt plans authority for food safety

The government has planned an agency to deal especially with food safety in the wake of the failure of related authorities in checking widespread adulteration of food items. The food ministry has drafted a bill proposing... Full story

No power price hike for a year

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday requested the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission not to increase power prices for a year, a commission official told New Age. Full story

Alternative funding if WB fails to decide in Jan: PM

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Wednesday cleared her government’s stance on the World Bank’s financing of the Padma Birdge project saying the bank would have to confirm this month whether or... Full story

NATIONAL

18 producers in operation contrary to JS body advice

Eighteen out of the 62 pharmaceutical companies reported by a Jatiya Sangsad panel last year as producers of sub-standard drugs have allegedly been continuing with the malpractice. Full story

BNP-led protesters, police clash in Ctg

METRO

Labour leaders demand end to violence against domestic helps

Labour rights activists on Wednesday demanded quick approval of the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy 2010 to ensure their rights and stop all forms of violence against them. At a human chain, they also demanded... Full story

SUST business students continue demo for dept chair’s removal

BUSINESS

BB posts record in dollar purchase spree

Bangladesh Bank purchased a record $2.549 billion from the market between July 1 and January 23 of financial year 2012-13 with a view to curbing the depreciation of greenback against the local currency taka, said central bank officials. According to... Full story

Another tight monetary policy to be unveiled Jan 31

INTERNATIONAL

Fighting rages in Syria

Fighting raged in several Syrian flashpoints on Wednesday as key Damascus ally Moscow lashed out the Syrian opposition for its ‘obsession’ with toppling president Bashar al-Assad. In a related development, Russian president Vladimir... Full story

New UN sanctions spark N Korean fury

SPORTS

Riders survive Shabbir scare

Shabbir Rahman came from nowhere to play an astonishing innings, but Rangpur Riders somehow survived his onslaught to post their second win in the Bangladesh Premier League in Khulna on Wednesday. Riders thought they did enough to win the match after they reached 174-4 and then reduced Barisal Burners... Full story

KRB humbled at home

EDITORIAL

A pointer to govt’s perception of police’s role, responsibility

IT SHOULD be assuring for the people when the prime minister herself... Full story

A welcome advice

OP-ED

Student leaders

EVER since I settled down in the United Kingdom, I have been a regular reader of some locally-published Bengali papers. One very common news item that I read is about receptions in honour of some student leaders from... Full story

Obama mobilises his New America

TIMEOUT

Nancy wins award for first time

Popular singer Nazmun Munir Nancy for the first time won the National Film Award as the best playback singer for giving voice to the song Dui dikei basobas in the film Prajapati. Recently, the government announced the names of the... Full story