A high-level exchange of views has been held between Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) and the European Union, focusing on security preparations, capacity building and the expansion of mutual cooperation ahead of the upcoming 13th National Election and the referendum.
The meeting took place on Monday at the headquarters of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, where Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, according to a press release.
The EU delegation also included Deputy Head of Delegation and Head of the Political, Press and Information Section, Baiba Zariņa. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest.
During the discussion, the director general briefed the EU envoy in detail on the overall preparedness of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP for the upcoming Parliamentary Election and the Referendum–2026.
He highlighted the force’s trained manpower, multi-dimensional security arrangements, coordinated planning and field-level readiness. The EU envoy expressed satisfaction with the preparations presented.
The meeting also discussed various initiatives undertaken to enhance the capacity, professionalism and welfare of Ansar and VDP members.
Special emphasis was placed on skill development programmes, modern and time-relevant training frameworks, sustainable development initiatives and the “Sanjiban Project,” which aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of grassroots members of the force.
The Director General informed the envoy that Ansar and VDP is implementing extensive training and development programmes to build its members into skilled, self-reliant and internationally competitive human resources.
As a result of these initiatives, employment opportunities for trained members are gradually increasing both at home and abroad, he noted.
The meeting also underscored the importance of making more effective use of existing bilateral potential and further expanding cooperation between Bangladesh Ansar and VDP and the European Union.
The EU envoy praised the overall activities, professionalism and development-oriented initiatives of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, and expressed optimism that cooperation between the two sides would become stronger and more extensive in the future.
Additional director general and other senior officials of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP were present at the courtesy meeting.
