These officials wield extensive executive and limited judicial powers within their respective jurisdiction.

Their primary duties encompass maintaining law and order,[1] protecting citizen's right, monitoring markets, overseeing elections[2] and public examinations,[3] conducting evictions, upholding protocol and safeguarding the government’s interests through necessary means.

[4] Prior to 1 November 2007, the court of Magistrates was manned by officers from Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration).

On 16 January 2018, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Appellate Division granted leave to appeal and stayed the said verdict till disposal of the case.

[9] According to Section 10 (5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the Government may, if it thinks expedient or necessary, appoint any persons employed in the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) to be an Executive Magistrate and confer the powers of an Executive Magistrate on any such member.

Besides, it is also mentioned in Section 10(6) of the said Code that all persons appointed as Assistant Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners or Upazila Nirbahi Officer in any District or Upazila shall be Executive Magistrates and may exercise the power of Executive Magistrate within their existing respective local areas.

404 Criminal Procedure [1898: Act V (8) Power to require security for good behaviour form vagrants and suspected persons.

[13] Under this Act, the Executive Magistrate may take into cognizance the offences committed in his/her presence or unfolded before him or her on the spot of the occurrence.

Upon confession of the accused, the said Magistrate can sentence the offender as per the concerned law, but in case of imprisonment, not exceeding two years.