Paceman Mahsrafee-Bin-Mortuza gave the home team a dream start removing dangerman Virender Sehwag cheaply but left-handed opener Gambhir (139) and Dravid (145 not out) consolidated the tourists' position during a mammoth 259-run partnership for the second wicket as India amassed 334 for two in their first innings.

Little master Sachin Tendulkar, fresh from his unbeaten 248 in the Dhaka Test, was giving company to Dravid on 36 when bails were drawn at the MA Aziz Stadium.

For the second time Indian captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss but unlike in Dhaka, he preferred to bat first.

Although hard-hitting Sehwag (10) again failed to capitalise in perfect batting conditions following his disappointing performance in the first Test, Gambhir and Dravid made no mistake to make the batting paradise their own.

Mashrafee brought early celebrations for a 25,000 jubilant port city crowd when Sehwag tried to cut him but only edged the ball to first slip where Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar comfortably gripped the ball.

Smarting under a duck in the first Test, Dravid joined Gambhir to repair the early damage (14-1).

Rookie Gambhir, who missed out on a century against South Africa in Kanpur last month, was more aggressive than his senior partner and completed his maiden Test century in his fifth appearance.

The 23-year-old Delhi batter raced to 44 with six boundaries in eight balls including four fours in debutant Nazmul Hossain's one over but gave a chance on the same score.

But Manzarul Islam, fielding at slips, failed to hold on to a low catch off Mohammad Rafique. Gambhir did not look back and pushed left-arm spinner Manzarul for a single to the on-side to complete his hundred with sixteen boundaries in 131 balls.

On the other hand, 31-year-old Dravid took some time to settle down but flourished in reaching his 18th Test century.

The right-handed batsman struck a brilliant back-foot drive against Talha Jubair -- his 14th boundary in 196 balls -- in the first over after tea to write his name in the list of century makers against every Test-playing nation after Gary Kirsten of South Africa, Australia's Steve Waugh and compatriot Tendulkar. Dravid also became the first cricketer to score Test centuries in each of the ten Test playing countries.

The home side finally got the much-desired breakthrough when Gambhir mistimed a pull on to his wicket to give 17-year-old Nazmul his maiden Test wicket and end Tendulkar's long waiting in the dressing room.

Gambhir's 196-ball essay was laced with 19 hits to the fence while Dravid, who has faced 275 balls, struck 21 boundaries.

India fielded the same side that played in Dhaka while the Tigers have made three changes, bringing in Aftab Ahmed, Talha and Nazmul for Tapash Baisya, Rajin Saleh and Mushfiqur Rahman.