West Indies, replying to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 238, reached 17 for one at the close on the second day of the Test at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex.
The home team lost Test newcomer Dale Richards, when he was adjudged lbw to off-spinner Shakib Al Hasan for 13 in the penultimate over of the day.
But the depleted West Indies side were on top earlier, when they left Bangladesh wobbling on 121 for six at lunch.
They, however, like their more celebrated colleagues, who have chosen to boycott the Test to protest lack of playing contracts for four previous series, outstanding payments, and other issues, failed to knock the Bangladesh tail over cheaply.
Kemar Roach was West Indies' most successful bowler with three wickets for 46 runs from 23 overs.
Dave Bernard Jr captured two for 30 from 11 overs, and Tino Best took two for 58 from 17 overs, but Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza led the way for his side with 39, Mushfiqur Rahim stroked 36, and Shahadat Hossain made a career-best 33 to boost the visitors' total.
good bowling
"I thought we bowled well, particularly Kemar and Tino, who hit their lines and lengths aggressively," said West Indies captain Floyd Reifer.
"I don't think we let them off the hook. The pitch is the kind that anyone who comes in and puts their head down, they can get runs. At 121 for six, you would still expect someone to put up a partnership, and it was just a matter of us sticking to the basics.
Reifer added: "We are now looking to bat for the entire third day. I have asked the guys to bat in partnerships, and this is what we are looking for - consistent batting down the order.
"I know I will have to be a major part of it. I have not played Test cricket for a while, but I have been playing pretty good cricket in the domestic competition, and I will be looking for a big score when I get in to bat."
Best made the breakthrough for West Indies when he had Tamim Iqbal caught at slip for 14 in the first over of the day.
Three overs later, Darren Sammy gained a questionable lbw verdict from Sri Lankan umpire Asoka de Silva to dismiss opener Imrul Kayes for 33 to leave Bangladesh 49 for two.
West Indies met early resistance from Raqibul Hasan and Junaid Siddique, when they added 30 for the third wicket.
But Bernard broke the stand to claim his first Test wicket, when Raqibul was caught at gully for 14 to trigger a collapse which saw Bangladesh lose three wickets for 21 runs in the space of 55 balls.
West Indies also scalped Siddique, caught at mid-wicket for 27 off Bernard, and Best had Mohammad Ashraful caught behind for six. Bangladesh slid to 100 for five.
Just before lunch, Roach collected his first Test wicket when Shakib was dubiously caught at gully for 17, although video replays clearly suggested the ball ricocheted from his forearm guard, and not from his glove, as first thought by umpire Tony Hill of New Zealand.
After lunch, only 10 overs were possible in about 40 minutes, after rain delayed the re-start by an hour and 50 minutes.
149 for seven at tea
But West Indies continued to make headway, when Roach had Mahmudullah caught at gully for nine, as Bangladesh reached 149 for seven at tea.
After the break, the weakened West Indies side fell into the same bad habits of their established teammates, and the Bangladesh lower order put up a fight and inched their side over the 200-run mark.
Off-spinner Ryan Austin, who claimed nine wickets in the Tigers' opening tour match, ended the innings, when he had Shahadat caught behind.
Bangladesh play two Tests, three One-day Internationals, and a Twenty20 International on their five-week tour of the Caribbean.