A Rab release said the law enforcers came to learn that a member of the JMB suicide squad will carry out attack in the capital. On December 30, the elite force became confirmed that the bomber had reached the capital.

The members of Rab-2 arrested madrasa student Hafez Ahmed Kadir Mainuddin alias Uday, 21, while he was getting into a taxicab at Moghbazar at around 2:00pm with the bomb hidden in a sweetmeat packet and a small bouquet.

Following leads from Uday, the Rab men arrested another JMB suspect, Sheikh Arif Uddin, 30, of Kachua in Bagerhat, raiding the Eastern Plaza at Hatirpool.

"The manner of carrying the bomb suggests that the carrier might deliver the bomb to his target as a New Year gift," said a Rab official, claiming Uday a member of the JMB suicide squad.

Dismantling the bomb, Rab officials found two small bottles of diesel, 40 ball bearings and 45 barbed wires. A circuit, a switch and pencil batteries were fitted with the bomb by electric wire.

A student of Jamia Ahmedia Sunnia Hefzokhana at Hathazari in Chittagong, Uday came to the capital and rented room No. 113 at the Hotel Sebika in Moghbazar at around 10:30am on Friday.

"The bomb contained both flammable substance and splinters, so it could cause huge damage," Lt Col Ijazur Rahman, Rab-2 commanding officer, told The Daily Star. The criminal brought the bomb to blast it on 31st night, he said.

During primary interrogation, Uday said a man gave him the packet to deliver it to another person. He, however, remained silent as the interrogators asked him about the identity of those two.

The Rab-2 commanding officer said they are yet to interrogate Arif.