The interim government has given the army magisterial powers across the country. This information was informed in a notification signed by Jeti Pru, senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration’s Dispatch-2 branch today on Tuesday.
According to the notification, under Section 12(1) of the Criminal Code, 1898, commissioned officers of the army are empowered to act as executive magistrates. They will have this power till the next 60 days after the notification is issued.
It states that, in the case of organized crime under sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133 and 142 of the Criminal Code 1898, can exercise their judicial powers.
When the quota reform movement spread across the country including Dhaka, the then Awami League government deployed the army and imposed a curfew on the night of July 19. Later, when the Awami League government fell on August 5, the Nobel-winning economist Dr. An interim government was formed under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus. However, the army deployed by the previous Awami League government is still working across the country. Now they have been given judicial power.