The government is determined and continuing diplomatic efforts with countries concerned for the repatriation of the six fugitive convicted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"...this is one of our top priority assignments," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told journalists yesterday.

More than one is reportedly in the US, another in Canada while the three others'

whereabouts are still unknown.

"You know there are some barriers," Shahriar said, adding that the government was engaged in the process to cancel the political asylum of one.

He said one convict's application seeking political asylum got rejected in a country which is opposed to death penalty and that the Bangladesh government was committed to the nation and respectful towards its laws.

On a question on the repatriation delay, Shahriar said, "That's where our challenge lies. We have taken the challenge and are working on that."

He said countries which oppose death penalty naturally do not hand over convicted killers. Diplomatic sources said the government would bring the six back through mutual legal assistance or memorandums of understanding to extradite them. The ministries of the law, home, and foreign affairs are working together to identify the countries where the convicts are absconding and maintaining diplomatic channels.

Since 2010, a government taskforce has been working to locate and bring back the six - Rashed Chowdhury, Noor Chowdhury, Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Abdul Mazed and Moslehuddin.

Earlier in August 2015, US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat officially informed Dhaka that fugitive Rashed was staying in the US securing political asylum.

A highly placed government source yesterday told The Daily Star that the government has already asked the US to cancel Rashed's political asylum and extradite him.

The taskforce is certain of Noor's location. He is now in Canada without any legal papers. Canada declined both Noor's application seeking political asylum and deporting him as it is against its policy to send a person back to where the death sentence provision exists.

The taskforce has no confirmation about the location of the remaining four. In January 2010, five condemned killers of Bangabandhu were hanged at Dhaka Central Jail.

The Appellate Division dismissed their pleas to review a Supreme Court verdict confirming capital punishment for 12 former army officers on November 19,2009.