The motive for the killings was not known and it was unclear if the deaths were related to their work.

Mr. Sarwar, a news editor at the private TV station Maasranga, was found with his hands tied behind his back. His wife worked as a senior reporter at the ATN Bangla, another private station.

Preliminary investigations suggested that the killings had been planned and that the couple had probably known their attackers, a senior detective was quoted by local newspapers as saying.