Dhaka: Arefin Dipan, a publisher hacked to death in Dhaka on Saturday, ran a publishing house ‘Jagriti Prakashani’, which published slain writer Avijit Roy’s book Biswasher Virus (The Virus of Faith).

The publishing house ‘Shuddhashar Prokashani’ of Ahmedur Rashid Tutul, who was also attacked, published Roy’s book Shunya Theke Mahabishwa (From Zero to Great Universe).

Tutul reportedly received death threats after Roy’s murder in February.

Witnesses said that a gang of five attackers entered Tutul’s office posing as buyers. They swooped in on the three with firearms and sharp weapons.

The assailants hacked Tutul and the other two before locking them up and a few others in the office, witnesses said.

The attack on Bangladesh’s free thinkers began with the killing of Ahmed Rajib Haider in February 2013, followed by those of writers Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman, Ananta Bijoy Das and Niladri Chattopadhya.

The attacks come amid fears of the rise of extremism in Bangladesh.

Last month, Japanese national Kunio Hoshi was murdered in Rangpur while there was a murder attempt on a pastor in Pabna.

A week ago, a bomb attack on the Shia community left two dead and over 80 injured.

The attacks come amid fears of the rise of extremism in the nation.(Agencies)