The 15-run loss in the second one-day international on Sunday night might have been the worst performance in their cricketing history for Sourav Ganguly and his men, but for the lowest-ranked Bangladesh it was rare moment of celebration.

And celebrate they did with the young and old alike pouring on to the streets in joy across the country, strangers embracing one another in victory mood, and politicians rushing to congratulate the cricket team on its rare win.

'Success at last', 'Tigers over the moon' -- screamed the headlines this morning as the dailies splashed Bangladesh's conquest of India on the front-pages alongside the news of tsunami killing thousands in Asia.

The 'New Age' aptly summed up the victory saying "with repeated defeats in recent matches, and nothing much else to celebrate, the city and entire nation found a night to remember. It was a night of joy!"

The newspapers reserved their comments on the match for another day and devoted most print space to describe the scenes across the country after the team's first ever win at home and only their sixth ever.

Soon after Aftab Ahmed, the hero of the match with an enterprising half century that provided his team a respectable score, ran out Murali Kartik to signal the end of Indian innings, "bikes, rickshaws, cars and even a tractor swamped with cheering people carrying the national flag or just showing the victory sign, flooded into the streets.

"Passengers of metro buses turned their journey into a victory lap."

The security measures that India had insisted for its cricket team included closing down all shops and any other activities in the vicinity of the stadiums and team hotels here and in Chittagong.

The government here had gone to the extent of even curtailing the annual festivities to celebrate the Victory Day, or the Independence Day on December 16 in order to accommodate the wishes of the visitors.

Yesterday, however, was an exception as even security personnel joined in the celebrations.

A police constable in front of the Bangabandhu National Stadium, holding up a small national flag, was waving at the stream of bikes even as he let them go from the wrong side of the road, a report said.

"We are not restricting any traffic because it is a night of jubilation," he said.

Reports talked about similar scenes in Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and other parts of the country.

Waiters in hotels and restaurants posed a wider smile as they served with extra hospitality. "Bangladesh beat India, sir," they said beaming with joy.

Last night the students across the country gave the books a happy leave and indulged in delirious celebrations.

"It is the most memorable victory I can remember. Our tigers have done it at last," Imran Ahmed of Dhaka University said.

"What a way to celebrate our 100th match," another shouted.

The earlier wins for Bangladesh had come against Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Scotland and Kenya.

Politicians were quick to grab a share of the limelight.

"I take pride in congratulating our team for the stunning victory," President Iajuddin Ahmed was reported as saying.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia expressed similar sentiments while the opposition Awami League was a bit more revved up.

"We are excited with the countrymen over the victory against India through an excellent performance after a long gap of winning the ICC Trophy and defeat of another strong team Pakistan in the World Cup," it said.