In Bangladesh, students protested on the issue of reservation and on August 5 former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country. Now a month and a half later, the interim government of Mohammad Yunus has extended the military’s powers proving unsuccessful in stopping the chaos, after which the threat of military rule is increasing once again in the country.
Mohammad Yunus has given powers of non-special executive magistrates to the army across the country with immediate effect.
According to a government notification, army officers can serve as executive magistrates under the supervision of district magistrates in the country for 60 days. Army will be the government in Bangladesh for two months now.
An adviser to the government said that after receiving magisterial powers, the army officer would have the power to arrest, detain people. It can also fire in self-defense or as needed.
Legal adviser Asif Nazrul said the army will not abuse its authority. This will not be necessary when the situation improves.
The decision to extend the military’s powers comes on a day when thousands of activists from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party took to the streets of Dhaka to demand democratic change through elections.
As the caretaker government has not yet announced when the elections will be held, they gathered outside the BNP headquarters and chanted slogans demanding fresh elections.
After the fall of Hasina government, BNP had demanded elections to be held within 3 months. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son and BNP acting president Tariq Rehman addressed his supporters online on Tuesday.
Tariq said that only free and fair elections can ensure political stability in Bangladesh. addressed his supporters online. Tariq said that only free and fair elections can ensure political stability in Bangladesh.
Former Secretary Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan said that in view of the current law and order situation, the interim government of Mohammad Yunus is timely and necessary. I believe this move will significantly improve law and order across the country.
Senior advocate ZI Khan Panna disagreed with this decision. They say it is not right. Has the government lost faith in the judiciary? It is not appropriate for military personnel to perform the duties of magistrates under Deputy Commissioners.
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, many policemen have not been coming to the police station for a month and a half. After the departure of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 450 out of 664 police stations were attacked.
The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Staff Union has announced an indefinite strike from August 6. Brigadier General (retd) M. After several meetings with Sakhwat Hussain, the strike was called off on August 10. Still many police officers are missing from police stations.
