Bangladesh Air Force and Navy Officers Granted Magistracy Power

In a recent development, the government has extended magistracy powers to commissioned officers of the Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy, following a similar grant to Bangladesh Army officers just weeks earlier.

On 29 September, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular amending the previous notification that had conferred these powers to the army on 17 September.

The latest notification empowers all commissioned members of the armed forces to act as executive magistrates nationwide.

According to the circular issued on 17 September, eligible army officers were authorised to perform their duties as executive magistrates for a duration of 60 days.

These army magistrates are authorised to oversee matters concerning offences specified in 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 (CRPC). These stipulations have remained unchanged in the recent notification.