Bavuma has suffered a left tricep muscle strain sustained when he fell awkwardly in diving to avoid a run-out during a one-day international against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last Friday.
The red-ball skipper has therefore only completed one full Test series this year - away to the West Indies - after also missing the Newlands New Year Test against India due to pulling a hamstring in the previous Test at Centurion.
Bavuma will though travel with the squad to Dhaka on Tuesday to continue his recovery under the supervision of the Proteas medical team in preparation for the second Test.
But while Bavuma’s leadership and experience will undoubtedly be missed, it has opened the door for batting prodigy Dewald Brevis.
The 21-year-old has had a taste of international cricket before having earned a couple of T20I caps under white-ball coach Rob Walter, but this will be his first call-up to the Test arena.
Brevis scored 447 runs at 40.63, including two centuries and two fifties, for the Titans in last season’s CSA 4-Day competition. He also struck 49 and 74 for South Africa ‘A’ against Sri Lanka ‘A’ last month.
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has also earned a Test recall due to the injury to left-arm seamer Nandre Burger, who will miss the tour due to a lumbar stress fracture.
The series is crucial for the Proteas' hopes of qualifying for the final of next year’s World Test Championship. They need to win a minimum of five of their remaining six Tests of the WTC cycle to secure a spot in the Lord’s final next year.
Proteas Test squad against Bangladesh
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
Test Series
21 - 25 October
Bangladesh vs South Africa - Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
29 October - 02 November
Bangladesh vs South Africa - Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram.