At least five of the 13 convicts, who were awarded death sentence and life term in Biswajit Das murder case, are fugitives in police record for the last five years, although they are active in social media or are seen in some areas in the capital, sources said.
At least three other convicts have reportedly fled the country.
A number of former Bangladesh Chhatra League activists of Jagannath University (JnU) unit said five of the convicts were seen roaming different areas of the capital. One of them even celebrated his birthday in a public place recently.
Most of the convicts are former JnU students.
Rajon Talukder, whose death sentence was confirmed by the HC court, updated his Facebook status yesterday. He is in Dhaka and found wishing to his younger brothers and friends on their birthdays, according to his Facebook page.
Rajon's village home is in Keshobpur of Netrakona's Kalmakanda.
Asked, Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kalmakanda Police Station, yesterday told The Daily Star that there was an arrest warrant for Rajon and they often conducted drives, but they were yet to trace him.
“We have heard that he is in Kolkata,” he said.
About taking any step to bring him back, he said those who investigated the case would look into the matter.
The Facebook status of Imran Hossain, who was given life sentence, was updated on December 3 this year.
A highly-placed source of JnU BCL incumbent committee confirmed that Imran celebrated his birthday in Kabi Nazrul College area of Old Dhaka on October 26.
Three others who were awarded life sentence were also seen in Dhaka. They are Noor-e-Alam Limon, Rafiqul Islam and Yunus Ali, the source added.
About the arrest of Limon, Amiruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Pirganj Police Station of Rangpur, said there was an arrest warrant for Limon. He said they did not find Limon though they raided his village home.
A former female student of JnU Psychology department told this correspondent that Tahsin called her from an international number a couple of months ago and said he was fine and living in Dubai.
Tajul Islam, the then detective branch inspector, who investigated the case, said once the court punished somebody, the police station concerned was supposed to check the convict's permanent address and take action.
Biswajit, 24, proprietor of Amantron Tailors in the capital's Shakharibazar, was hacked to death on his way to the tailoring shop during a countrywide road blockade on December 9, 2012.
BCL activists of JnU unit attacked him with machetes, iron rods and hockey sticks reportedly mistaking him for a picket.
On December 18, 2013, a Dhaka court sentenced eight BCL activists to death and 13 others to life imprisonment for the killing.
On August 6 this year, the High Court upheld the death sentence of two BCL men. Of them, Rafiqul Islam Shakil is in jail and Rajon on the run.
Biswajit's elder brother Uttam Das told The Daily Star that it was really disappointing that the authorities failed to arrest those who went into hiding even five years after the murder.