Even though nobody has claimed responsibility for this murder, the modus operandi was very similar to all the killings carried out by the extremist Islamist militants in Bangladesh.
See Also:
IHEU: Atheist student Nazimuddin Samad killed in Bangladesh
Center for Inquiry: Atheist Student Murdered by Islamists in Bangladesh, Center for Inquiry Demands Action
Dhaka Tribune: JnU student killed in suspected militant attack
BD News 24: Jagannath University student hacked, shot dead in Dhaka’s Sutrapur
Over the last couple of years, secular activists in Bangladesh were murdered in same manner though no Islamic extremist group has yet confirmed their involvement in Samad’s murder.
Samad was under threat by the Islamist for his activism and when asked to stay safe, this is how he responded-
Azharul islam: Worried about you Nazim. Be careful, please. You already know what’s happening! Be careful.
Nazimuddin Samad: I am also scared, Sir, scared of getting killed. But what else can I do? It’s better to die rather than living by keeping my head down.