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The government has extended the executive magistracy powers granted to officers of the Armed Forces by another 60 days -- the fifth such extension -- to help maintain law and order across the country.
The extension will take effect on Jul 14, the public administration ministry said in a notification issued on Sunday, bdnews24.com reports.
The powers were first granted on Sept 17, 2024, for a two-month term to Army officers deployed in the field alongside law-enforcing agencies.
The Armed Forces have been deployed with magistracy powers since September last year. They respond swiftly to any public unrest or attempts to break the law.
However, despite their presence under the interim government, several untoward incidents have occurred, including some that resulted in deaths.
The powers were first granted on Sept 17, 2024, for a two-month term to Army officers deployed on the ground alongside law-enforcing agencies.
Troops had already been deployed across the country even before the Awami League government was ousted by a student-led mass uprising. After the government’s fall on Aug 5, 2024, and the lifting of the nationwide curfew, the Armed Forces remained in the field to help stabilise the law and order situation. Later, they also engaged in joint operations.
Though initially the powers were granted to Army officers only, a separate notification later extended the same authority to commissioned officers of the Navy and Air Force.
The special executive magistracy powers were previously extended in November, January, March, and most recently in June.
Since the beginning of the deployment, military personnel have led countrywide joint operations to restore and maintain order.
In addition to regular patrols, troops have been seen responding to incidents of unrest and setting up checkpoints on key roads to conduct searches.
Sunday’s extension confirms that commissioned officers at the rank of captain or above, as well as officers of the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) of similar rank, will retain these special powers.
Section 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which awards military officers the status of special executive magistrates, says these officers shall be subordinate to the district magistrates, or deputy commissioners.
They will perform duties under Sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of the CrPC, 1898.
Under these sections, the special executive magistrates will have powers including orders for arrest and detention, execution of arrest warrants, issuance of search warrants, fining for misconduct and minor offences, exemption from bail, and the dispersal of illegal assemblies.
In addition, they will have the authority to remove obstacles to immovable property and business establishments and take necessary actions if there is a threat of harm to the public.