Bangladesh require another 164 runs to avoid the follow-on after Shivnarine Chanderpaul's double century in the first Test on Wednesday.
The West Indian's brilliant knock catapulted his side to 4-527 before they declared at tea on day two in Dhaka.
In reply, the hosts mounted a positive 3-164 in the final session on the back of opener Tamim Iqbal's 72 off 71 deliveries.
Chanderpaul equalled his best Test innings of 203 not out and put on a 296-run unbroken fifth-wicket stand with Denesh Ramdin as the host's hopeless attack searched for answers.
The 38-year-old left-hander smashed 22 fours during his 457 minutes and 372 balls at the crease.
Ramdin, who was 52 overnight, notched an unbeaten 126 with his milestone coming from a flick for two off spinner Shakib Al Hasan.
Debutant spinner Sohag Gazi could not add another scalp to his overnight tally of three wickets.
West Indies paceman Ravi Rampaul struck twice early in Bangladesh's innings with the wickets of Junaid Siddique (seven) and Shahriar Nafees (31), who were caught by Darren Bravo and Ramdin respectively.
In between, Iqbal took plenty of risks with 10 boundaries and two sixes before he was caught off a mistimed drive.
The opener carted four boundaries off one Tino Best over and completed his half-century with a six from just 38 balls.
At stumps, Naeem Islam (27) and Shakib Al Hasan (16) built a solid platform for the third day but there is still a long way back for Bangladesh despite an encouraging start.
First Posted 15 November, 2012 8:16AM AEST
