Of them, two were arrested on charges of bribery, while the rest for interfering in the action of the joint forces.

The arrestees are Dumuria upazila correspondents of Dainik Ittefaq GM Abdus Salam, Dainik Sangbad Udoy Chakraborty, Jessore based Dainik Spandan Sirajul Islam and businessman Pankaj Mondol.

According to sources in police and the joint forces, Udoy Chakraborty and Sirajul Islam were caught red-handed while receiving two notes of 500 taka denomination in bribe from fish trader Babar Ali Gazi of Dumuria upazila at 3:00pm.

GM Abdus Salam and Pankaj Mandol were arrested for interfering in the action of the joint forces.

The arrestees were handed over to Dumuria Police Station.

With the arrest of Udoy and Siraj, the joint forces have so far arrested four journalists of Khulna region on charges of bribery.

On April 10, the joint forces arrested Khulna bureau chief of Dainik Inquilab ATM Rafique at his office with Tk 20,000. He received the money as bribe from two officials

of the Sundarbans Forest Division. Rafique has been sentenced to four years imprisonment in the case filed under the Speedy Trial Act.

On the night of June 14, the joint forces arrested Dakop upazila correspondent of Khulna based Dainik Prabartan at Shankha Market while he was receiving Tk 3,000 in bribe from shrimp farm owner Hashem Howlader of the upazila.