Be ready for the coming parliamentary polls: Hasina to Ansar

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told all members of the Bangladesh Ansar and the Village Defence Party to prepare to help conduct a fair and peaceful eleventh national parliamentary election.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 Feb 2018, 08:14 AM
Updated : 19 Feb 2018, 08:14 AM

The prime minister made the remarks in a speech at the 38th national rally of the Ansar and VDP on Monday.

The Ansar force is expected to play a significant security role in this year’s general election, as it has previously.

“Every single member of the forces has to be ready at all times in order to achieve our goal of a fair and peaceful parliamentary election,” Hasina said.

“The right to vote is a fundamental right of the people. We must ensure they can exercise it properly.”

She also highlighted the government’s role in building a ‘reliable’ Ansar and VDP force.

Ansar currently has 40 battalions, including two battalions of women. Fifteen battalions are deployed in the Chittagong hill areas.

In addition 50,000 Ansar members are assigned to provide security to 3,771 private and public institutions. Two village defence platoons, with 32 men and 32 women, are assigned to every village.

“The Ansar force is distributed throughout the country and has played a massive role in our grassroots socio-economic development. It has a glorious tradition as the largest security force in the country.”

The prime minister called on the Ansar force to maintain discipline and order and to follow the law. She said that the government would make efforts to increase the opportunities and benefits afforded to members of the force.

Hasina was welcomed by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Ministry of Home Affairs National Security Division Secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin and Ansar Director General Maj Gen Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin upon her arrival at the Ansar and VDP Academy on Monday.

She inspected a parade and received salutes before handing out special awards for bravery and service.