The military officials’ magistracy powers have been extended for another 60 days, now including the Coast Guard and BGB. The government has extended the magistracy powers of the officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force for another 60 days.
This information was obtained from a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on November 15. It states that commissioned officers holding the rank of Captain and above in the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been granted special executive magistrate powers throughout Bangladesh.
In addition, military officials working on deputation in the Coast Guard and BGB have also received the same powers. These powers are conferred for 60 days from the date of the notification.
According to the notification, these executive magistrate powers have been granted under sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1898.
Previously, on September 17, powers were granted to military officials to control the law and order situation in the country. Shortly after, on September 30, these powers were extended to the officers of the Navy and Air Force.
Mansur Hossain, a public relations officer at the Ministry of Public Administration, told The Daily Star that a correction was made in the notification issued on September 17, replacing the term ‘Army’ with ‘Armed Forces.’ However, a new notification was not issued; the same memorandum and date of the previous notification were substituted.
In that notification, the armed forces’ officials were also granted 60 days of magistracy powers. Before that time limit expired, military officials received another 60 days of magistracy powers.