The government has decided to give magisterial power to the commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Army for 60 days.
The public administration ministry on Tuesday issued a circular in this regard following section 12 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1989.
The officers will act as executive magistrates across the country for the next 60 days, said the circular, signed by Jeti Pru, senior assistant secretary of the public administration ministry.
The order will come into effect immediately, it said.
The officials will be able to deal with Sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95 (2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of CrPC.
Lt Col Sami-Ud-Daula Chowdhury, director of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the development to The Bangladesh Post.
“We have given the order and will work accordingly,” he added.
Amid countrywide violent clashes centering the quota reform movement, the immediate-past Awami League government on July 19 deployed the army to contain the acts of violence as acts of violence spread across the country. It also imposed curfew to contain the mayhem that claimed at least 110 lives in four days. During the student-led mass upsurge, Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister and fled the country to India on August 5.
Within three days of the fall of Sheikh Hasina government, an interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus was formed on August 8.
The army along with other forces has been conducting a joint drive to recover arms and ammunition looted from police stations, outposts and other security establishments since September 4.
Earlier, Prof Yunus led government announced to conduct the joint drive to recover illegal weapons and suspended all licences of firearms issued during the Awami League government.
At the same time, instructions were given to deposit firearms with ammunition to the police station concerned by September 3.
During the recent movement against the Hasina-led government, several police stations came under attacks, resulting in the looting of arms from various units and duty posts.
