They are Md Matiur Rahman alias Masud, 20, son of Banat Ali of Haradamage village in Gangni upazila of Meherpur district and Abdur Rakib alias Nuruddin, 22, son of Mohammad Ishaque Ali of Moupara village in Mohonpur upazila in Rajshahi district.

Masud, leader of JMB unit for Sharsha and Jhikargacha upazilas in Jessore, was arrested from Khalispur New Road in the city.

Rab quoted Masud as saying that said he detonated a bomb on August 17 in Jessore bus terminal area. Masud acted on orders from Hasan alias Mintoo, Jessore 'district commander' of JMB.

Nuruddin was arrested from Doulatpur rail crossing area of the city. He told Rab that he was JMB unit leader for Abhoynagar and Keshabpur upazilas in Jessore and that he was involved in the August 17 blasts near Jessore Sadar thana. He also said he detonated the bombs as per order from Hasan alias Mintoo.

Masud and Nuruddin are madrasa students in Gangni and Mohanpur respectively, police said. They came to Khulna recently with new assignments make bomb attacks on key installations, they told Rab during primary interrogation.

According to their confessions, they were moving in the city in the guise of rickshawpullers to determine which spots or installations should be targets for bomb attacks.

Rab officials said they are yet to confirm whether the two are members of JMB's suicide squad.

With the two, the member of JMB Ehsars caught by Rab in Khulna city in last one month is five. Intelligence personnel said JMB suicide squads comprise Ehsars.

Masud and Nuruddin said they are repented for their activities and begged to be pardoned, Rab said. They were being quizzed till filing of the report yesterday evening.