Jaques will join Worcestershire when this tour is over

Phil Jaques hit his maiden Test fifty to push Australia to 151-2 against Bangladesh before rain ended day two of the second Test four hours early.

In his second Test, Jaques hit 66 before miscuing a sweep off spinner Mohammad Rafique to mid-wicket.

He hit a huge six and eight fours in Australia's reply to the hosts' 197.

Rain hit with nightwatchman Jason Gillespie on 28, with six boundaries, and skipper Ricky Ponting 19 not out. A sodden ground prevented further play.

Two pitch inspections revealed a soggy outfield and poor light under overcast skies, prompting the decision to abandon the day.

"The pitch is dry, but the outfield is very wet," said umpire Aleem Dar.

"We are also not happy with the lights."

Play will start 30 minutes early, at 0430 BST, over the three remaining days to make up for the time lost.

Jaques, in the side for the injured Damien Martyn, will join Worcestershire when the tour finishes, having previously starred with Northants and Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been fined 25% of his match fee after a controversial incident on day one in Chittagong.

Ponting was deemed to have breached the ICC code on dissent to an umpire's decision when he approached officials after Aftab Ahmed was given not out.

The third umpire was then consulted again and Ahmed was sent on his way.

"I believe his involvement played a part in prompting the referral," match referee Jeff Crowe explained.

Monday's Bangladesh newspapers carried neither match details nor photographs as print media boycotted the Test.

The press box at the stadium was empty except for a handful covering for foreign media after a clash between Bangladeshi journalists an police armed with batons.

Around 20 officers damaged cameras and clashed with about 50 protesting reporters and photographers.

The row began on Sunday when a policeman allegedly assaulted a photographer in a row over using transport in the restricted stadium vicinity.