The weather in Mirpur has now wiped out the first three days of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand.

After the first two days at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium were washed out, more heavy overnight rain prevented play on day three.

Although the umpires inspected the wicket at 1100 local time, water on the covers and a soggy outfield forced them to rule out the prospect of any play.

They will try to start play half-an-hour early on day four, at 0300 GMT.

Such 30-minute extensions on days four and five will attempt to make up some of the time lost to the weather.

With a draw now the most likely result, New Zealand are set to take the series after winning the opening Test in Chittagong.

But umpire Daryl Harper explained on day two: "We cannot call the match off totally until the fifth day."

Bangladesh (from): Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Zunaid Siddique, Rajin Saleh, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Mahbubul Alam.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Flynn, Grant Elliott, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Asoka de Silva (SRI)
TV umpire: Akhtaruddin (BAN)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)