Ansar, VDP to be developed as skilled, professional forces, says home advisor

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party will be developed as skilled, organised, professional and timely forces, said Home Advisor Lt Gen (retired) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

The advisor spoke at the closing ceremony of basic training for 40th BCS (Ansar) officers and 25th batch sepoy recruits at the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy in Safipur on Wednesday.

The Ansar members came forward in every emergency with deep patriotism starting from the emergence of Bangladesh to post-independence struggles, the home advisor said.

"Currently, the Ansar members are playing an important role in maintaining law and order and providing security at the important structures and diplomatic zones,” he said.

After the fall of the ‘autocratic government’ following the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, the Ansar and Village Defence Party members have risked their lives to ensure security at the important structures including traffic points, police stations, and airports, he said.

"Especially, the Ansar Guard Battalion members ensured the security inside the DMP stations and at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.”

After the interim government was formed, the Ansar Guard Battalion have been performing their duties with courage at the State Guest House Jamuna amid a shortage of police, the advisor said.

He thanked every Ansar member for playing a brave role during the nation’s need.

The advisor said that volunteer VDP members, who have spread across the villages, played a significant role in maintaining peace and discipline. In recent times, social security was hampered in the villages and the VDP members worked commendably to address it.

The Ansar members have acted as a shield to prevent those who wanted to spread ‘communal hatred’ by attacking the temples, and churches. They contributed to ensuring communal harmony among minorities, he said.

The advisor hoped that VDP members would organise as youth-based volunteers and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country in future.