Army granted magisterial powers again

The government has once again granted special executive magisterial powers to specific commissioned officers of the armed forces centering around the founding anniversary of the banned Awami League.

The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard on Monday.

According to the notification, under Sections 12(1) and 17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898, commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Army at the rank of Captain and above, including officers of equivalent ranks deputed to the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), have been vested with special executive magistrate powers.

Under this authorization, the designated officers will be able to exercise powers under Sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of the CrPC. The notification specifies that this authority will remain effective in the Dhaka, Chattogram, and Gazipur metropolitan areas, as well as in the districts of Narayanganj, Gopalganj, and Faridpur. The powers are authorized for use from June 22 to June 30, 2026.

Last year, the army was similarly deployed in the field with magisterial powers centering around the Awami League's founding anniversary.