Habibul, who lost his captaincy after making just 46 in four Test innings against India at home last month, scored 60 not out to help his team reach 183-5 at stumps on the opening day of a three-day match against Sri Lanka ‘A’.
Bangladesh were struggling at 73-3 after electing to bat, but Habibul steadied the innings with a 75-run stand for the fourth wicket with new captain Mohammad Ashraful (37).
Opener Javed Omar (34) and Rajin Saleh (21) were the other main scorers.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who has played 12 Tests for Sri Lanka, was the most impressive bowler with 3-51.
Bangladesh will play three Tests and as many One-day Internationals on their current tour of Sri Lanka. The first Test begins here on June 25.
Scoreboard
BANGLADESH (1st innings):
Javed Omar run out 34
Shahriar Nafees c Mubarak b Prasad 16
Rajin Saleh lbw b Herath 21
Habibul Bashar not out 60
Mohammad Ashraful c J’dene b Herath 37
Saqibul Hasan c Udawatte b Herath 0
Khaled Mashud not out 7
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-2, NB-1) 8
TOTAL (for five wkts, 79 overs) 183
FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-70, 3-73, 4-148, 5-148.
TO BAT: Mushfiqur Rahim, Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Sharif, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel.
BOWLING (to-date): Ganegama 11-2-33-0; Welegedera 14-4-36-0; Prasad 16-6-17-1; Herath 20-5-51-3 (1nb); Lokuarachchi 11-4-14-0; Perera 11-3-25-0.
SRI LANKA ‘A’: T.T. Samaraweera, M.G. Vandort, M.L. Udawatte, J. Mubarak, S.H.T. Kandamby, M.D.K. Perera, H.A.P.W. Jayawardene, K.S. Lokuarachchi, H.M.R.K.B. Herath, W.C.A. Ganegama, U.W.M.B.C.A. Welegedera, K.T.G.D. Prasad.
UMPIRES: R.D. Kottahachchi and P.G. Liyanage.
NOTE: 12 players per side (11 bat, 11 field).—Agencies