Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party, Maj Gen Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, said that more than 550,000 Ansar members will be deployed to maintain security during the upcoming national parliamentary election.
He shared the information with journalists on Monday morning after inaugurating the Ansar–VDP basic training programme for men and women at Gokulnagar High School in Ashulia, Savar, organised by the Savar Upazila Ansar and VDP office.
The Director General said, “Since the election schedule has not been announced yet, the exact number of polling centres has not been finalised. Preparations of Ansar members have been underway since 5 August. The entire force is being reorganised through reforms and young people are being recruited.”
Abdul Motaleb claimed that such a large number of youths did not join the force during the previous government’s tenure. “In the past one and a half years, youths aged between 18 and 25 have been trained. Another 150,000 to 200,000 members will be trained by December and January,” he said.
He also assured that all internal issues within the Ansar force are being addressed with importance.
More than 100 men and women are participating in the 10-day Ansar–VDP basic training.
The inaugural event was attended by Dhaka Range Deputy Director Ashraful Alam, Dhaka District Commandant Mohammad Mostak Ahmed, Dhaka Assistant Commandant Rashidul Hasan Jan and Savar Upazila Ansar and VDP Officer Anisur Rahman.
