The government is unifying three existing laws into a single “Ansar Bahini Act” to bring Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) under a modern, well-organised legal framework, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced.
He made the announcement at the inauguration of newly built “Agrajatra Bhaban,” “Prantik Songjog” service, “Prantik Shokti,” and a “Mobile IT Training Centre” at the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP auditorium on Thursday in Khilgaon, Dhaka.
Speaking at the ceremony, Salahuddin explained that the force is currently governed by three separate statutes – the “Ansar Bahini Act, 1995,” the “Ansar Battalion Act, 2023,” and the “Village Defence Party Act, 1995.”
Replacing these with one unified law and modern rules will give the force’s operations a firmer legal foundation and make overall management more disciplined.
Turning to infrastructure, Salahuddin said a modern Ansar Headquarters is being established on 3.428 acres of legally handed-over abandoned land in Tejgaon.
The multi-storey building and its advanced command centre will allow central operational monitoring, coordinated strategic planning, and rapid information sharing with other law enforcement agencies.
Highlighting the force’s history, he recalled that public engagement in national security began in 1976 under former president Ziaur Rahman’s “People’s Warfare” doctrine, developing Ansar and VDP into a major public security platform.
Its institutional foundation was later strengthened under Khaleda Zia’s government through three separate laws in 1995 and the conferment of the ‘Independence Award’ in 2004.
Current progress towards integrated legal reform and modern facilities is moving ahead under the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Addressing security duties, Salahuddin praised Ansar members for maintaining order during national elections, religious festivals, and at key state installations.
He also commended their operations in remote hill and border areas to prevent illegal entry, drug trafficking, and smuggling, alongside conducting eviction drives, crime prevention, rescuing missing children, and tackling illegal brokers.
To turn unskilled manpower into a skilled workforce, Salahuddin announced that 1 lakh volunteers are being brought under modern training and digital management.
Initiatives such as Japanese language training, the “Sanjeevan” project, digital courses, and services like “Prantik Songjog” and “Prantik Shokti” will expand employment at home and abroad, empower women, and support national growth.
Salahuddin added that the new headquarters will boost operational capacity, strengthen links between central leadership and grassroots units, and serve as a model of public service based on good governance, discipline, professionalism, innovation, accountability, and honesty.
Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motalib Sazzad Mahmud presided over the function, which was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the force.
