File photo: Army personnel have been deployed in the capital city Dhaka. Photo Credit: Daily Star

on November 24, 2024

Magistracy power for officers of Armed Forces for another 60 days

By Diplomatic Correspondent

The government has extended the magistracy power given to commissioned officers of the armed forces with the rank of captain, its equivalent, or above by 60 days.
This time the government also extended the magistracy power to officers on deputation in Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh.
The public administration ministry issued a circular in this regard on November 15, citing sections 12 (1) and 17 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.
An officer with magistracy power can arrest people and put them in custody. In self-defense and extreme need, the officer can open fire, according to the law.
As per section 12 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the government may confer upon any person all or any of the powers conferred on an executive magistrate.
The circular says their jurisdiction for exercising magistracy power will be all over Bangladesh.
As per the circular signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Jeti Pru, commissioned army officers will be able to deal with 64 and other sections of the CrPC
Section 64 gives an executive or judicial magistrate the power to order an arrest without a warrant when an offence is committed in the magistrate's presence.
Earlier on September 17, the government gave the power of magistracy to commissioned army officers for 60 days.
The decision was made to improve law and order when police were largely absent on the streets since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5 following a mass uprising.