Fresh off Bangladesh’s historic 1-0 victory over India, midfielder Shamit Shome chose a quieter, more personal celebration.

Bangladesh’s long-suffering football fans finally found reason to celebrate on Tuesday as the national team clinched a landmark victory over India -- their first win against their neighbours in 22 years.

From jerseys to flags and food, Bangladesh's international football fixtures have become a thriving ecosystem for small businesses, showing how national pride can ripple through local communities.

As Bangladesh players celebrated the win, it felt as though two eras quietly touched hands.

Bangladesh’s recent performances against India and other stronger teams, combined with the influx of overseas-based footballers over the past year, have raised public expectations despite the team’s modest global ranking.

Bangladesh will take the field against India today with notable changes in the midfield, as Shamit Shome has been included alongside Sheikh Morsalin while Jamal Bhuyan and Sohel Rana Jr sit out.

Shomit Shome is optimistic Bangladesh will end their winless streak in international football when they take on neighbours India in an AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture in Dhaka on November 18.

After landing in Dhaka on Monday evening, Bangladesh star midfielder Hamza Choudhury expressed his determination to secure a victory over India in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on November 18.

Bashundhara Kings' young midfielder Cuba Mitchell has earned his maiden call-up to the Bangladesh national football team, after head coach Javier Cabrera added him to the squad at the last moment for the upcoming home matches against Nepal and India.

Captain Jamal Bhuiyan said he would pick himself in the starting eleven against India in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers if he were given the responsibility of head coach.

Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera finds himself at a defining crossroads, blessed with a momentous opportunity to shape the very future of the country’s football.

Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuyan has expressed his desire to see Shamit Shome, Fahamedul Islam, Zayyan Ahmed, and himself included in the starting eleven.

Hamza Choudhury will lead the midfield along with Sohel Rana Sr, Sohel Rana Jr and Sheikh Morsalin.

The 27-year-old will have only one training session with the team before Thursday’s match at the National Stadium.

Leicester City's Bangladeshi midfielder Hamza Choudhury reached Dhaka this morning to take part in the national team's upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers fixtures against Hong Kong, China. The 28-year-old trained with the team under lights at the National Stadium the same evening as the men in red and green gear up for the home fixture on October 9 before travelling to Hong Kong, China for the reverse fixture. Photos: Firoz Ahmed 

Bangladesh football team forward Mohammad Ibrahim said that they will feel the absence of star teammates Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, and Fahamedul Islam in their upcoming two FIFA friendlies against hosts Nepal but was hopeful that the experienced players in the side will make up for these absences.

Bangladesh national team head coach Javier Cabrera remains confident about preparing his side for the two upcoming FIFA friendlies against hosts Nepal on September 6 and 9, despite 10 Bashundhara Kings players expected to join the national camp only next month.

About 10 years ago, in 2015, the Bangladesh national football team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Singapore in a FIFA friendly match. Tuesday’s identical 2-1 defeat to the same opponent in the Asian Cup Qualifiers at the same ground gives the impression that the men in red and green have remained in the same place they were a decade ago -- despite the inclusion of expatriate players like Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome.

Bangladesh’s 2-1 defeat to Singapore in the Asian Cup Qualifiers wasn’t just a defeat -- it was a missed opportunity to build something better with the right tools finally in hand. And that’s exactly what former striker and Mohammedan’s league-winning coach Alfaz Ahmed is talking about: we finally have the parts, but we don’t know how to assemble the machine.

Bangladesh midfielder Shamit Shome expressed his disappointment following his side’s 2-1 defeat to Singapore in an AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture at the National Stadium on Tuesday but remained optimistic about the future of Bangladesh football.