Government extends armed forces’ magistracy powers for sixth time

The interim government has extended by another 60 days the executive magistracy powers granted to officers of the armed forces for a sixth term. The decision was confirmed in a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Thursday. It said that Army captains and officers of higher rank -- including those deputed to the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) -- will continue to exercise the powers of special executive magistrates for two more months. The authority covers offences 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. The Army had been deployed across the country since the mass...