According to sources in the police, the duo is linked to the murder of former Bangladesh Awami League leader Ahasanullah Master.

The criminals were arrested from 11, Esplanade East around 2.20 pm and fake currency notes with a face value of Rs 20,000 and Rs 2.25 lakh in Indian currency were recovered from them.

The duo has been dealing in fake currency for the last three years, the police said.

Mujibur Rehman Jameel (28), one of the accused, was staying in a rented house in Teghoria under the fake name of Ayub Mandal, while his brother, Mohammed Masoor Rehman (26), was staying in Bagnan under the name of Raseel.

According to the police, Jameel is a resident of Pallabimirpur in Bangladesh. “Masoor Rehman, who was convicted for life in the Ahsanullah murder case of 2004, used to work in a local zari shop. He also owned a taxi,” a police officer said.

The duo has also been linked to Mamoon Mia alias Suman Majumdar, who had been arrested from Tripura in connection with the murder.

On Monday, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team had arrested four Bangladeshi criminals — Nurul Islam, Wadul Islam, Sadayat Ahmed and Jakir Hossain — who were hiding in Garia with fake identities.