Shocking indeed
We will never know what actually happened on the fateful night of July1, 2016 at the Holey Artisan Bakery, which stunned and broke our hearts by the deaths of so many innocent people; our world has turned up-side down. The tragic incident will remain shrouded in mystery forever because a very cunning and evil force is at work that will go to any length to achieve its goal.
Cancer has invaded our country and when this deadly disease afflicts one, the survival rate is very low and that is what has happened in our case as a society. We do not know where we shall land eventually.
Nur Jahan
Chittagong
Congratulations Portugal
So did Portugal create history by wining the European Nations’ Cup, the highest honour in the continent’s football, on Sunday, sending 46.31 million people into wild jubilation. They won even though they lost their best player Ronaldo after 24 minutes due to his knee injury. They made it possible by dint of determination and indomitable energy, a lesson for all the soccer playing nations of the world.
It is not that France were a inferior team on the pitch, rather they dominated the match right from the first whistle of the English referee. But they lost because fortunes do not smile always. Just a few days ago, the hosts beat Germany against the run of play because fortunes favoured them. What appears to me is that the French players were confident of annexing the cup for the third time after Germany victory. They paid the price of over confidence.
The other vital reason of the defeat was the absence of key player Kareem Benzama, whom the coach ignored for reasons not known, may be for his faith in religion. We think that no player should be overlooked for religious reason.
Portugal, the eventual champions drew all their three matches at the group stage and luckily superceded Turkey and Albania on goal average for one of the four best 3rd placed teams. Thirty-four years ago, Italy also drew all their three matches at the group stage and passed Cameroon on goal average to advance to the second round as the group runners-up. Thereafter, Italy did not look back and went on to capture the World Cup for the 3rd time to equal Brazil.
The result proved, all well that ends well. We congratulate the Portuguese players and the coaching staff for their first triumphant in any major international tournament. There is a lesson also for our players.
Abdullah Rahi
Dhakai.
