While we are far from the unrest Bangladesh observed immediately after the fall of the Awami League government, the prevailing law and order situation is still far from ideal. With frequent flare-ups between groups and a sharp rise in criminal activity, it is clear that there is a void in terms of law enforcement in the country.
To this end, the recent decision to grant our armed forces magistracy powers is a good interim measure to improve our law and order.
Beginning from the date of issuance, these powers will remain in effect for 60 days across the country, and prescribes that Army officers will be able to exercise their magistracy powers in cases of crimes falling under certain provisions, carrying out their duties under the supervision of the relevant district magistrates or deputy commissioners. The army will be granted powers such as issuing orders for arrest and detention, executing arrest warrants, issuing search warrants, collecting bonds for misdemeanours and petty offenses, dispersing unlawful assemblies, and removing encroachments on immovable property and business establishments.
With sporadic attacks on minority communities, sites of worship being vandalized, and even instances of assault against women becoming worrying trends throughout Bangladesh, this was the correct move on the part of the interim government. Our armed forces have increasingly proven themselves capable, going above and beyond their duties given the pro-active role they played in relief and rescue operations after the devastating floods which left far too many dead.
However, this is still an interim measure until the current administration is able to carry out its promised reforms across our police force.
Historically speaking, our police force has rightly been called out for being less-than-friendly to the people, and while the current situation dictates that any form of law enforcement is still better than none, we hope the promised reforms don’t just tackle the current crisis but also goes at length to restore the public’s trust in the police.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
