The two Dhaka giants earned the right to participate in the second most important club competition in Asia as champions of the National Football League (NFL) and Federation Cup.

The formal invitation has reached the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and the two clubs must send their entries by November 26, which is the deadline, according to BFF general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal.

"There is no place for the league champions in this tournament and that is why our national league and cup winners have received invitations," Helal informed.

Although the Federation Cup is not a national level tournament, the AFC recognises the knockout meet as the country's second most important football event.

Helal also gave some good news for the participating clubs.

"Each club will receive 20,000 dollars for every away match from the AFC. It will help the clubs meet the financial demands for travelling abroad. With the local hospitality coming free, the clubs will need virtually no investment for the away trips," he added.

Muktijoddha Sangsad took part in the AFC Cup last year but on a number of occasions in the past, Dhaka clubs have refused to enter different Asian club tournaments owing to financial constraints.

The AFC Cup will come as a boost for the footballers of the country who have been deprived of regular international exposure.

With clubs of top Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and China contesting in the premier competition AFC Champions League, teams from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Oman, Malaysia, Turkmensitan, Myanmar, Singapore, North Korea, Hong Kong and Bahrain have made the AFC Cup their priority.

Apart from Bangladesh, India and Maldives are the other South Asian countries drawn in the AFC Cup.

The BFF general secretary hinted that the AFC is looking forward to introduce another tournament for under-developed football nations featuring the rest of the SAARC countries.

"But that proposed tournament will not be played on home and away basis. The AFC is planning to divide them into different zones and hold the tournament at a single venue because it would be too expensive."