Sheikh Morsalin scripted a night to remember in Dhaka as Bangladesh defeated India 1–0 on Tuesday, ending a 22-year wait for a competitive victory over their regional rivals and securing their first win of the Asian Cup Qualifiers. 

It also marked the team's first victory in what may come to be known as the 'Hamza Era', and may have ensured that they end their campaign as third in the group, above their much larger neighbours. Even if qualification was never a realistic target.  

What turned out to be the winning goal came fairly early, capping what was probably the home team's best passage of play on the night, working some openings in the Indian backline and testing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the Indian goal. From well inside his own half, Morsalin started a counter attack by releasing Rakib Hossain into wide open spaces on the left, then ran almost the length of the pitch to arrive in the opposition box just in time to meet the return pass from Rakib, who did brilliantly. Morsalin pounced on a moment's hesitation between the Indian goalie and defender to execute a deft finish that ended up nutmegging Gurpreet. 

Cue bedlam in the arena, as over 23,000 football-lovers packed into the National Stadium on this wintry evening sensed something special was in the offing. Only the footballers seemed to have other ideas. 

From that moment, Bangladesh fought to protect the lead with grit and discipline, trading in the zeal and enterprise that leads to chances and most notably handed over possession of the ball to a struggling India side that ended the night bottom in their group.

The win revived memories of Bangladesh’s last triumph over India, a 2–1 victory after extra time in the final of the 2003 SAFF Championship. Over 22 years later, Morsalin brought that long-lost feeling back to the stands, delivering a moment generations of fans had been waiting for.

Expectation was in the air tonight, even as Bangladesh entered the match without a win in the 5 games they had played since EPL star Hamza Chowdhury announced his return to roots - making him the only South Asian footballer in history to have played top division football in a prominent European league, let alone the best league in the world. The first of those games had been the away leg against India in the group's opener, where Bangladesh had appeared fairly untroubled but settled for a 0-0 draw. The team had kept improving since then but luck had not been on their side, even as Hamza's switch inspired a clutch of more such 'probashi (expatriate) sons of the soil' to follow his lead, including Zayan Ahmed and Shamit Shome.

Today at home, the feeling was that India were there for the taking. And although they delivered, the result owed a lot to India's lack of quality up front, as Bangladesh kept inviting pressure and conceded chance after chance that went begging.  

India pushed hard for an equaliser after the break. Substitute Mahesh Singh fired wide, while Mohammad Sanan tested goalkeeper Mitul Marma with a long-range effort in the 65th minute. But Bangladesh held firm, anchored by the commanding presence of Hamza Choudhury deep in midfield, from where he could also organise the defence.

Bangladesh appealed for a penalty in the 81st minute when Fahim’s deflected header struck the back of Sandesh Jhingan's flailing arm as he was coming down from the aerial challenge, but the referee dismissed the claim. Replays showed contact, but also that the Indian centre-back had no view of the ball. India then launched a late surge, only for Mitul to remain composed between the posts.

However, Bangladesh could have doubled the lead in stoppage time when Fahim broke into the box, but failed to get past the last defender.

Moments later, the final whistle set off wild celebrations. Players embraced, fans erupted, and Bangladesh savoured a long-awaited victory, one that will echo in South Asian football for years to come.

With the result, Bangladesh climbed to third place in Group C with 5 points from five matches, while India slipped to the bottom with 2. Captain Jamal Bhuiyan, though unused, celebrated the rare win intently from the bench.