Witnesses said a gang of two riding a motorbike intercepted Mostafa while he was going to his fish farm, Haq Fisheries, at Narayanpur village, ten kilometres from Jessore town, at around 5:30am.

The gang stabbed the editor of the weekly in his chest and abdomen and left the scene immediately, they added.

Mostafa was rushed to Jessore General Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

A Shi'ite by faith, Mostafa Kamal was the founder of Mowla Ali Academy, which is being run by the Shias at Chanchrah in the town.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station said the murder might have been committed due to previous enmity over land dispute.

But unconfirmed sources said Motafa was killed by the operatives of the outlawed Purbo Banglar Communist Party (Janajuddho faction).