Sources said the BB move was reportedly prompted by a government directive.

Meanwhile, Moulana Masud was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital last night after he felt chest pain. He was admitted to the CCU (cardiac care unit) of the hospital under strict security.

The BB letter also asked the banks to send detailed information on the bank account of Masud or his organisation Isla-hul-Muslemin Parishad, including when it was opened, bank balance and the transaction statement. The banks were also asked to cautiously handle the transactions of these accounts.

A photograph of Moulana Fariduddin Masud was attached with the letter.

Managing director of a bank said they will stop transaction in those accounts, if they have any, until they receive clearance from the BB.

Masud was arrested from the Zia International Airport in connection with the August 17 countrywide bomb blasts.

Meanwhile, police arrested Ishraq Ahmed Siraji, a close associate of Masud, from Reaz Bagh in the capital's Khilgaon on Wednesday.

Siraji was arrested as primary investigations revealed that he maintains a joint account with Masud, now an eight-day remand for the second time. Investigators also found that an excessive amount was drawn from the account prior to the August 17 serial bomb blasts.

Showing Siraji arrested in the August 17 bombing case filed with the Airport Police Station, police produced him before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court yesterday with a remand prayer. The court sent Siraji on a five-day remand.

Investigation Officer (IO) Sub-Inspector Anisur Rahman in his forwarding report placed before the court said Siraji supplied money spent for the August 17 bomb attacks. The IO added that Siraji needs to be quizzed to reveal the mystery behind the excessive financial transaction.

Meanwhile, West Bengal police on Wednesday arrested Nasiruddin, brother of Indian national Giasuddin who was arrested from Satkhira recently, suspecting his link to JMB, said our Satkhira correspondent.

"We have information that Indian police arrested Gias's brother Nasir from his house at Nityanandakathi of Swarup Nagar thana in North 24 Parganas," said Officer-in-Charge of Kalaroa Police Station Arju Mian.

Our staff correspondent from Chittagong reports: A five-member joint team of police, Directorate General of Forces Intelligent (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI), Special Branch (SB) and Detective Branch (DB) of police continued interrogating Sadrul Alam, a nephew of Asadullah Al Galib at the local DB office.

An interrogator said they are yet to find any lead from Sadrul.

Meanwhile, Ahmad and Abdus Sattar Mollah, arrested from Chittagong and Dhaka on Tuesday and Wednesday with three others, including Sadrul, were placed on a seven-day remand each in the August 17 bomb blasts cases.

Our Satkhira correspondent writes Nasir Uddin and Maniruzzaman Munna, cadres of banned Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were placed on an eight-day fresh remand for the third time yesterday.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Munshi Atiqur Rahman, also the IO of the bomb blasts cases in Satkhira, brought the two to Satkhira and produced them before a first class magistrate court seeking a 10-day remand.

Later, Nasir and Munna, who have already admitted to having links to the August 17 bombings, were sent to the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) in Dhaka for further interrogation.

Our correspondent from Rangpur reports law enforcers seem reluctant for mysterious reasons to arrest two militant kingpins, who are relatives of JMB chief Abdur Rahman, although they are certain that the two played pivotal roles in carrying out bomb blasts in some northern districts.

The JMB cadres arrested from the northern region already said the two high ranked militants, who are relatives also, had a strong network in four districts--Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.

Sources in the intelligence agencies said one of the two resides permanently in northeastern part of Rangpur town while the other lives in Jamalpur. They have long been organising madrasa and college students, mainly members of the Ahle Hadith community, for jihad (holy war).

Without mentioning the names of the kingpins, the sources said the Rangpur resident went on hiding three weeks before the August 17 incident while the other stayed in Rangpur for two days before August 17, supplying bombs and assigning the bombers.

The locals believe that the Rangpur resident left for Saudi Arabia to take up a job at the King Fahd University. The law enforcers, however, believe he is still hiding in the country.

The Jamalpur-dweller had military training from a Middle Eastern country and used to train the JMB militants.

A local said he saw the militants receiving training at a place near RCCI School and College around three months ago. The militants instantly threatened him with life and asked him not to disclose it to anyone, he said.

Our Khulna correspondent reports: Regional leader of the JMB bomb squad Abdur Rashid was sent to the district jail yesterday after being shown arrested in the bomb blasts case in Khulna. Police will produce him before a court tomorrow with a remand petition.

Meanwhile, a district court sent Tariqul Islam, a Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) member arrested in Faridpur on Wednesday, on a four-day remand for interrogation.

Our Sirajganj correspondent adds: Three suspected militants -- Alamgir Hossain, Belal Hossian and Mannan Hossain -- were taken on a seven-day fresh remand yesterday. They will be brought to the JIC for quizzing.

Police yesterday arrested Mufti Abdur Rahman, the imam of Goalkhali Ahle Hadith Jame Mosque of Khulna at Bagarhat Bazar in Pirojpur sadar upazila and seized some documents from him, adds BDNEWS.

Rahman has close contacts with Principal Abdus Samad, a leader of Ahle Hadith in Comilla who believed to have started the organisation's activities in Goalkhali.