After electing to field first, Zimbabwe's seam attack exploited the conditions brilliantly to bowl Bangladesh out inside 48 overs.
In reply, the hosts reached 136 for 1 in 34 overs, leaving the visitors with plenty of work to do on the second day.
Bangladesh's innings revolved around Mominul Haque, who stood firm amid a relentless collapse with a fluent 60 off 81 balls, striking 12 boundaries. He shared a crucial 77-run partnership with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto after the early dismissal of Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Shadman Islam.
However, Bangladesh's innings unravelled immediately after Mominul's departure. From a relatively comfortable 113 for 2, the visitors lost their remaining eight wickets for just 27 runs, exposing another fragile batting performance.
Shanto battled for 19 off 73 deliveries, while Mushfiqur Rahim (9), Towhid Hridoy (3) and the lower order offered little resistance. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 140 in 47.2 overs.
Newman Nyamhuri starred with the ball, claiming 4 for 61, while Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani picked up two wickets each. Brad Evans also struck twice as Zimbabwe's pace attack shared the spoils.
Zimbabwe then made a confident start with the bat. Ben Curran and Innocent Kaia put together an 89-run opening stand that immediately erased Bangladesh's hopes of applying pressure.
Khaled Ahmed provided the only breakthrough by dismissing Curran for 42, but Kaia remained unbeaten on 76 from 108 balls, hitting nine fours. Brendan Taylor added an unbeaten 17 as the pair guided Zimbabwe to 136 for 1 at the close.
Bangladesh's bowlers struggled to create sustained pressure. Khaled finished with the lone wicket, while Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain and Taijul Islam went wicketless despite Taijul's economical spell.
