The process of bringing foreign-born, Bangladesh-origin footballers into the national fold is gaining momentum. In a significant development, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has officially completed the first step towards Shamit Shome's eligibility to play for Bangladesh by collecting his birth registration certificate on Sunday.
Shamit Shome, who plays for the Canadian national team setup, is one of the promising names in the football arena this movement.
The midfielder had formally expressed his intention to represent Bangladesh on 11 April. According to Fahad Karim, one of the BFF vice-presidents who is managing Shamit's documentation process, the birth certificate has already been obtained and shared with Shamit. The next phase involves applying for a Bangladeshi passport, for which coordination with the Bangladesh High Commission in Canada is now being planned.
"Today we've received Shamit's birth registration certificate. We've informed him as well. He'll let us know when he can visit the High Commission, and we will notify them accordingly," said a BFF Vice President involved with the process.
Since Shamit lives far from the High Commission's location in Canada, he will need time off from his club and coach to travel there. Alongside his birth certificate, Shamit will also have to present his parents' necessary documents when applying for the passport.
Meanwhile, the BFF has also received confirmation from another footballer of Bangladeshi descent Cuba Raul Mitchell, who plays for Sunderland U-21 in England. Although his father is Jamaican, his mother is Bangladeshi, making him eligible to play for Bangladesh.
These developments come in the wake of Hamza Choudhury's debut for the Bangladesh national team, which has sparked growing interest among footballers of Bangladeshi heritage across the globe. The BFF continues to actively identify and facilitate the inclusion of such talents to bolster the national squad for future international competitions.
