letters@thedailystar.net

Improving our football Afghanistan has defeated Bangladesh by a big margin of 4-0 in the opening match of SAFF football. The Afghan coach said, "The physical condition of Afghanistan is better than Bangladesh." I think hiring a foreign coach is not the solution for Bangladesh. Our girls from Kolshindur of Mymensingh were trained in their own areas and became champions in SAFF under-14 in Nepal. This is an example of how to develop football from the grassroots level. It is time for BFF to send coaches in every upazila to teach and train children the basics of football. This is how we can improve our football.

Shafkat Rahman BIAM Laboratory School New Eskaton, Dhaka

Fighting extremism

The year 2015 has seen a rise in terrorist activities in Bangladesh. Killing of foreign nationals, Bangladeshi bloggers and a publisher, attacks on the Shia community by the extremists have shocked the whole nation. The government should take strict measures to contain militancy in the country. We hope 2016 will be a better year for Bangladesh.

Ahsan Habib

Shyamoli, Dhaka