Tenure of Armed Forces’ Executive Magistracy Powers Extended

The interim government of Bangladesh has extended the special executive magistracy powers of commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces — specifically, army officers holding the rank of Captain and above, as well as officers of equivalent rank serving on deputation in the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) — for an additional three and a half months.

The decision was announced through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Tuesday (November 11).

According to the new directive, the extension will remain in effect from November 12 to February 28.

Previously, on September 12, a similar order had been issued for a two-month period, which expires today (Tuesday).

The earlier notification stated that commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Army, 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, would be empowered to take necessary action across the country concerning related offenses.

Following a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country. An interim government was subsequently formed on August 8.

In light of the prevailing law-and-order situation, on September 17 of last year, the armed forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) were granted special executive magistrate powers. Initially, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular granting this authority to commissioned officers of the army. Later, on September 30, the order was amended to extend these powers to commissioned officers across all branches of the armed forces — Army, Navy, and Air Force — holding the rank of Captain or above (or equivalent).

At that time, the powers were conferred for a 60-day period, which expired in mid-November. Since then, the tenure of this special authority has been repeatedly extended in 60-day increments.