Bangladesh’s interim government which is reportedly led by the ‘Nobel laureate’ Muhammad Yunus, has granted military special executive magistrate powers in the country with immediate effect. On Tuesday, the information was announced in a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration. The circular read, ‘The Army officers will act as executive magistrates across the country and exercise the granted powers for the next 60 days’.
The delegation of magisterial powers to the Army will allow it to perform police, prison-related duties, and responsibilities of the executive magistrates. Notably, an officer with these powers can arrest individuals without warrants and put them behind bars. The power granted to the Army officials gives them the authority to open fire in case of self-defence or necessity, said an adviser to the interim government.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tapash Kanti Baul said on the development, ‘The Army didn’t have the power to make an arrest without the presence of an executive magistrate but now they can place anyone under arrest since they can exercise the power vested upon them under Section 65 of the CRPC’.
After the violent ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, the army headed by Waker-uz-Zaman had taken the charge of Bangladesh briefly before the interim government was sworn in on August 8. ‘All those who were involved in crimes over the past few days will not be spared and legal action will be taken against them’, assured the Bangladesh Army Chief. He further added that the Air Force and Navy chief are with him and all of them are working together.
Even though a new interim government headed by an economist will be installed in Dhaka, it will be under the control of the army.
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