The arrestees are Abul Hossain, a second year student of the DU, and Junaid, a student of Jagannath College.

Both are activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the ruling BNP's student wing.

Sources said the two students along with a fourth year DU student, Ziaul Haque Zia, kept a manpower exporter, Pavel, confined in a room at the hall on Monday night. They said Pavel had taken Tk 20,000 from a relative of Ziaul long ago but did not give it back despite repeated reminders.

Hall unit JCD leaders alleged Pavel is a fake manpower exporter and cheated people in the name of sending them abroad for job.

Ramna police said they raided the hall on information that one person was kidnapped and kept there. They picked up three students including Ziaul.

A number of JCD workers later went to Ramna Police Station and demanded release of their fellow activists. Police however released Ziaul only.

A case under Speedy Trial Act was filed against Junaid and Abul Hossain.