C T Online Desk: The government has extended the special executive magistracy powers granted to the armed forces for an additional two months (60 days).
Commissioned officers of the rank of Captain and above have been authorized to exercise these powers, enabling them to assist in maintaining law and order across the country.
The extension was announced through a notification issued on Friday by Jeti Pru, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry’s Deputation-2 branch.
The order also includes officers of equivalent rank serving on deputation in the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard.
Earlier, on September 17, the armed forces were granted magistracy powers for two months under similar circumstances.
The latest notification, issued in the public interest and on the directive of the president, said that the powers have been extended under Sections 12(1) and 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
These special powers allow officers to act nationwide to control crimes under various sections, including 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The notification emphasized that the order would take immediate effect.
This extension comes amidst a significant political shift. On August 5, the Awami League government was ousted following widespread student-public protests over the quota reform movement in government jobs.
On August 8, Nobel laureate economist Dr Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of an interim government.
The Awami League government had deployed the army and imposed a nationwide curfew on July 19 to control the unrest. The military has been on deployment since then to manage law and order. The initial two-month magistracy powers, granted on September 17, are set to expire on Saturday, November 16.
With the extension, the armed forces and other designated personnel will continue to exercise these powers to ensure stability during this transitional period.
