Kaliakair (Gazipur) Correspondent:

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that Bangladesh Ansar Bahini played a glorious role in the great liberation war of Bangladesh. Ansar members participated in the liberation war with about 40,000 rifles. 670 Ansar Bahini members were martyred in the liberation war. I remember their contribution with gratitude from the 46th national gathering of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP.

He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the 46th national gathering of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force in Kaliakair-Safipur, Gazipur on Wednesday morning.

The Prime Minister said that the law and order situation in Bangladesh had deteriorated drastically after independence.

An unstable and anarchic situation had arisen in the country. Martyred President Ziaur Rahman had taken various steps to re-establish democracy and restore peace and order in the country.

As part of this, the Village Defense Force-VDP and the Ansar Force, which were formed with the aim of maintaining peace and order and strengthening social security at the village and urban levels, were merged, making the structure of this force stronger, more efficient and more effective. This far-sighted step of the declarer of independence laid the foundation for transforming Ansar and VDP into today's multi-dimensional, people-oriented and people-defense capable forces.

Then, during the Khaleda Zia government, the Ansar-VDP law was enacted in 1995, giving this force the status of an independent disciplined force from a voluntary structure, which is considered a milestone in the institutional development of this force. As a result of this groundbreaking step, today's Ansar and Village Defense Force has been established as a people-oriented defense force and a source of marginal capacity.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that the Ansar and Village Defense Force have played a special role in different situations in the country at different times. This force has also played a role in guarding all police stations in the country, managing traffic, and providing security support to important installations during the critical situation following the bloody mass uprising on August 5, 2024. In addition to the responsibility of maintaining law and order, Ansar and VDP members are also actively contributing to important areas such as creating social awareness, disaster management, and providing technology-based services.

The Prime Minister further said that currently, out of the 47 Ansar battalions, 16 are deployed in different regions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The force's 52,000 affiliated Ansar members are engaged in various responsibilities including ensuring security at important infrastructures, government offices, financial institutions, industries and power plants of the country.

More than 13,000 Hill Ansar and Hill VDP members of this force are playing an active role in strengthening trust and harmony among different ethnic groups. At the same time, one male and one female VDP platoon in every union of the country is involved in various social initiatives including preventing child marriage, combating violence against women and anti-drug activities, and raising public awareness. As a result, the force has established itself as an important medium not only for security but also for social change.

The Prime Minister said that Ansar VDP is also playing a role in increasing technical skills and creating employment in addition to its regular activities, which is positive. The creation of village-based entrepreneurs through the 'Sanjeevan Project', provision of collateral-free loan assistance through Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank and Welfare Trust, and employment opportunities through technical and freelancing training have been created.

The initiative to create domestic and foreign employment opportunities using AVJOBS i.e. Ansar & VDP Job PortaL software and AI application is also timely. At the same time, the initiative to provide employment abroad through Ansar Welfare Trust with a recruiting agency license under process by the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare will open the door to possibilities for members.

Tarique Rahman said that by prioritizing human resource development, multi-dimensional and demand-based modern training programs including Japanese language training, freelancing, digital marketing, 6G welding are being implemented, which is undoubtedly timely. These initiatives are in line with the government's strategic goal of expanding domestic and foreign employment and developing skilled human resources.

At the same time, such skill development activities are preparing the members for competition in the domestic and international labor market and are gradually transforming the force into an effective Human Capital Development Platform. I believe that such initiatives and activities will further enrich the institutional capacity of Ansar and VDP at home and abroad.

Ansar-VDP has currently gained the trust of the people as a reliable “First Responder” volunteer force in disaster management. At the same time, I believe that the officers and members of this force are firmly moving towards sustainable development by taking environmentally friendly initiatives like rainwater harvesting, setting up solar panels and biogas plants.

In addition, the success of Ansar-VDP in the sports and cultural arena is also commendable. In recognition of becoming champions for 3 consecutive times in the 5th, 6th and 7th Bangladesh Games, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force won the ‘Swadhinata Padak’ in 2004. In order to ensure smooth and uninterrupted completion of international standard sports events, the current government has taken measures to deploy 379 integrated Ansar members in 10 cricket stadiums of the country to ensure overall security.

The current government has provided sports cards to the players who have achieved success in various sports events by bringing them under a salary structure. You undoubtedly know that the current government has also provided sports cards to 15 athletes of Ansar VDP.

As part of the structural development of the Ansar and VDP forces, the process of drafting the ‘Ansar Battalion Rules, 2026;
‘VDP Regulations, 2026; Integrated Ansar Rules, 2026 and Ansar Battalion Member Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2026 is in the final stage.

At the same time, initiatives have been taken to formulate the Upazila Ansar Regulations 2026 to further strengthen the activities of this force at the upazila level. I firmly believe that through your dedication, discipline, professionalism and deep patriotism, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force will emerge as a technology-based humanitarian social force in the future.

After the ceremony, the Prime Minister enjoyed various programs and enjoyable cultural performances by Bangladesh Ansar Force.