The arrested are Abdul Quyum alias Kamal, 18, son of Shamsul Alam of Hasilkandi village in Shaghata upazila and Harun, 20, of Kukhatair village in Shaghata upazila. They were handed them over to Gaibandha Sadar police.

Meanwhile, Gaibandha district commander of JMB Badal alias Reaz confessed to his involvement in the August 17 serial bomb blasts in Gaibandha.

He gave his confessional statement before the court of first class magistrate, Kiron Chandra Roy under Section 164 of Bangladesh Penal Code.

During confession, he also said, 'I am very much repentant for killing many people in bomb attacks.'

' Earlier, I decided to snap link with JMB', Badal said.

'I realised that JMB leaders derailed us in name of establishing Islamic rule and I want to come back to normal life', Badal said to magistrate.

JMB 'ehsar' member Badal alias Reaz used different nick names such as Badal, Amir Ali and Reaz for conducting various missions. JMB high command gave him the names, he said.

Rab arrested Badal from Ayub Ali Ansari Jame Mosque in front of Gaibandha Circuit House on January 22. At that time he was conducting a secret meeting to launch a fresh bomb attack.

Rab personnel recovered two live powerful bombs and some books on Islamic revolution from his possession.

However, his associates managed to flee.

Police is still quizzing Badal after a magistrate court granted seven days remand on January 23. He gave important information on JMB activities and its network in the northern region.

JMB Bogra district regional commander Habibur Rahman alias Jubayer, an inhabitant of Saduria village in Shibganj upazila, was assigned with an additional responsibility of Gaibandha district commander to conduct bomb attacks on cultural functions early last year.

Gaibandha police arrested him on February 19, 2005 in connection with an incident of bomb blast at Mohimaganj BRAC office on February 10. Three persons sustained injuries in the attack. The front portion of the office was completely damaged in the attack.

After his arrest, Badal was entrusted with the responsibility of the commander of Gaibandha regional in July. Badal alias Reaz hired a house of one Sanju Mia of Gorsthanpara in Gaibandha Pourashava and started living together with another JMB activist Khurshed Mia and his wife.

After a few days Kamal of Shaghata and Raihan, Rassel, Farhad of Lalmonirhat district, all 'ehsar' members, joined the mission, Badal said.

He said, JMB bomb squad member Rabiul Islam came to his house with a carton of bombs on August 15.

Saifur Rahman, second in command, Abdul Awal, sub-sector commander of Bogra, Joypurhat Sirajganj and Gaibandha districts briefed them in detail about the plan of serial bomb blasts on August 16, Badal said.

Accordingly, Raihan, Rassel, Farhad, Kamal and Badal conducted bomb attacks at eight different points of Gaibandha town. Following a crackdown on JMB men by police, all of them went into hiding.

Earlier, Badal was named as Amir Ali and assigned with the task of commander of Joypurhat district.

However, Raihan, Rassel and Farhad snapped relationship with JMB afterwards.

In a preliminary interrogation, Quyum alias Kamal confessed that he had joined JMB through Badal. He attended many meetings held in different mosques.

'On the night before the bomb blast, I was given a piece of bomb covered with a bag made of cloth where I saw a switch only'.

'I kept it on the Judge court premises after switching on the bomb and fled away hurriedly', he said to police.

Earlier, Gaibandha police submitted a charge sheet of August 17 serial bombings before the District Judge Court.

The charge was framed against two persons, Matin Mehdi and Abdul Aziz for their involvement in the incident.

Fifteen other arrested were relieved from the charge. However, both Motin Mehdi and Abdul Aziz are still absconding.

When contacted, Gaibandha Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhanu Lal Das said, the bomb blast case charge sheet will be revised in due course and a supplementary charge sheet will be placed.