Bangladesh Army Granted Policing And Magistracy Powers After Yunus-Led Interim Government Struggles To Control Violence

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has granted the military special executive magistrate powers throughout the country with immediate effect.

According to a gazette notification issued by the Bangladeshi Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday, the eligible army officers will be able to act as executive magistrates under the supervision of district magistrates across Bangladesh for the next 60 days.

The army magistrates will oversee activities related to offences under Sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (CRPC), reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). 

The order is being interpreted as a step that will give greater powers to the Army in executing administrative and policing responsibilities across the violence-hit nation.

The order issued by the Ministry of Public Administration did not specify if it would be applicable at the level of the districts and mentioned that the instruction is applicable in “entire Bangladesh”. 

Speaking to the local media, Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Tapash Kanti Baul said that the Army didn't have the power to make an arrest without the presence of an executive magistrate.

However, with the government's order, the Army can now place anyone under arrest since they can exercise the power vested upon them.

Policing in Bangladesh has been severely impacted since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August as the ouster of the government rendered the police vulnerable to retribution from the masses because of the role of the police in the crackdown against the anti- Hasina protesters.

In recent weeks, there were reports of mob violence at different institutions, places, and attacks on Hindus and other minorities and their places of worship, which the Yunus-led Interim government has failed to stop.

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