The army remains deployed across the country to support public safety ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, even though its special executive magistracy powers have not been extended after 28 February.
Officials say the military continues to assist civil authorities during the busy holiday period, when millions of people travel to their hometowns and large volumes of cash circulate across the economy.
Alongside the annual Eid travel rush, the ready-made garments sector also pays salaries and festival bonuses to several hundred thousand workers, leading to significant financial transactions.
Authorities say the armed forces are maintaining close surveillance to ensure that no group exploits the period to disrupt public order.
As the armed forces no longer hold magistracy powers now, officials say executive magistrates from district administrations are being assigned during operations when needed.
A government notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on 11 November 2025 had formally set the duration of the magistracy authority.
The armed forces have been deployed in support of law enforcement for nearly two years following the mass uprising of July 2024.
To strengthen law enforcement operations during the transition period, the interim government gradually granted members of the armed forces special executive magistracy powers, which were most recently extended until 28 February.
Under the earlier government order, commissioned officers of the rank of captain and above in the Bangladesh Armed Forces – including those on deputation to the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh – were given special executive magistracy authority.
The notification stated that officers granted the powers could take cognisance of offences under several provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
More than 100,000 members of the army, 5,000 personnel from the navy and 3,730 members of the air force were deployed alongside other security forces during the 13th parliamentary election held on 12 February.
After the election concluded peacefully, a large portion of the deployed personnel returned to their barracks. About 37,000 members of the armed forces remain deployed across the country at present.
Officials say the remaining troops will also return fully to barracks if the home ministry determines that the overall law and order situation no longer requires their presence.
The Awami League government was removed from power on 5 August 2024 following a mass uprising led by students and members of the public. An interim government was formed three days later, on 8 August.
In response to the law-and-order challenges that emerged at the time, the government granted the armed forces – the army, navy and air force – special executive magistracy powers on 17 September 2024. The authority was subsequently extended every two months until its latest expiry at the end of February.
