Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP) Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud paid a courtesy call on President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday, discussing development, modernisation and future plans of the country’s largest people-oriented security and discipline force.
The courtesy call was held at Bangabhaban on Tuesday afternoon, reads a press release.
During the meeting, the Ansar-VDP director general congratulated and extended his best wishes to president on assuming office.
He briefed the president about various public welfare and development steps taken by the force.
The president praised the responsible role and contribution of Ansar-VDP members in ensuring public safety following the July mass uprising, during the 13th parliamentary election and in various other state activities.
He stressed the need to further strengthen the force’s engagement with the people, alongside maintaining professionalism, discipline and responsibility among its members in preserving peace, security and order in the country.
The president said Bangladesh Ansar and VDP is the country’s largest people-oriented security and discipline force. Its members have long been playing an important role in safeguarding national security, public safety and social stability.
He also said the continuity of modernisation and organisational capacity-building should be maintained to further expand and strengthen the role of Ansar-VDP in ensuring the country’s overall security and public welfare.
The president respectfully recalled the contribution of former president Ziaur Rahman to the reform of the Ansar force, particularly in establishing the Ansar Battalion and the VDP.
He also recalled the role of former prime minister Khaleda Zia in modernising the Ansar force, formulating various laws and establishing the Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank.
The president emphasised expanding foreign language, technical and technological training to make members of the force more skilled and employable.
He said opportunities should be created for members to acquire diverse skills in line with the demands of the modern world.
This would not only enhance their professional capabilities but also make an important contribution to the country’s human resource development.
The president also praised Ansar-VDP’s achievements in solar power generation, human resource development, sports and culture, as well as its contribution to various people-oriented activities. He stressed the need to further expand these positive and welfare-oriented initiatives.
He assured continued support for the development of Ansar-VDP, strengthening its organisational capacity and ensuring the welfare of its members.
President Fakhrul called upon members of the force to carry out their duties with greater dedication, professionalism and responsibility in maintaining peace, security, discipline and public welfare in the country.
During the meeting, the Ansar-VDP director general expressed his gratitude to the president and invited him to visit the Ansar Academy at any convenient time.
He also expressed his commitment to making the activities of Ansar and VDP more people-oriented, modern, efficient and effective by following the president’s valuable guidance and advice.
Secretaries to the president and other senior officials concerned were also present during the courtesy call.
