By BM Noor Alam 

DHAKA, July 12, 2026 (BSS) - The government has launched a comprehensive modernization drive to transform the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP) into a technology-driven, professionally skilled and operationally capable force through advanced training and digital initiatives. 

The move includes modern combat training, wider use of information technology in administrative and operational activities, and the launch of the force's digital media cell and online news portal, Prantik Kanthoswar.  

The force has further enhanced its operational readiness through the Sanjeeban project workshop, participation in the Bangladesh Army's Summer Exercise-2026 and training at the School of Infantry and Tactics (SI&T). 

Speaking to BSS, Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party Major General

Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud said the force is playing an increasingly important role in national security, disaster management and sustainable development. 

"Our members have been instructed to strengthen public safety by upholding integrity, humanitarian values and technology-based professional skills to earn people's trust," he said. 

The Director General said Ansar-VDP personnel are currently responsible for security at key government, autonomous and private installations, including airports, seaports, power plants, railway stations, hospitals, universities, export processing zones (EPZs), industrial areas, metro rail stations, the State Guest House Padma, foreign diplomatic missions, ICDDRB, passport offices and other strategic facilities across the country. 

Officials at the force headquarters said modernization efforts have focused on digital governance, advanced combat training and expanding technology-based services. 

The force has also strengthened institutional capacity by introducing its own digital media platform. 

Ansar members continue to assist police and other law enforcement agencies in maintaining law and order during national and local government elections.  

They are also deployed during Eid, Durga Puja and other national and religious festivals, traffic management, river transport security, crowd control and major state events. 

The force has expanded its role in disaster response by participating in rescue operations, relief distribution and rehabilitation during floods and other natural disasters. 

It is also contributing to socio-economic development by providing vocational training in tailoring, computer skills and fish farming to promote self-employment and reduce rural unemployment. 

To create overseas employment opportunities, specialized Six-G welding training has been introduced for male members seeking jobs in Japan, while 520 female members have completed a 90-day Japanese language course.  

Another 300 women have been trained for employment opportunities in Moldova. 

According to the headquarters, more than 6,500 personnel from 16 battalions deployed in the Chattogram Hill Tracts participated alongside the Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies in 14 mobile court operations across several districts.  

These drives targeted illegal businesses, consumer rights violations, environmental offences, meter fraud, illegal fishing and other unlawful activities.  

Members of the remaining 31 battalions have also been assisting district administrations in mobile courts, special operations and public security activities. 

More than 13,000 Hill Ansar and Hill VDP members are working in the hill districts on community security, post-disaster rehabilitation, landslide response, reconstruction of damaged roads and houses and evacuation of affected residents.  

In addition, around 56,000 embodied Ansar members are guarding government, autonomous and key private establishments through more than 6,000 Ansar Guards. 

In coordination with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar-VDP members have been deployed in border districts, including Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Satkhira, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Jamalpur and Khagrachhari, to help prevent push-ins, curb illegal border crossings, collect intelligence and conduct patrols. 

The Director General said nearly 7,500 union leaders, another 7,500 company and platoon commanders and more than 6,000 ward leaders receiving government allowances are actively involved in anti-drug campaigns, preventing child marriage, raising public awareness, disaster response and strengthening community safety at the grassroots level. 

He added that since July 1 this year, 5,000 embodied Ansar members have been deployed at 500 Upazila Health Complexes across the country to ensure the security of doctors, patients and healthcare workers, prevent the activities of brokers and safeguard government medical equipment.  

The initiative has also created employment opportunities for 5,000 members. 

Established on February 12, 1948, the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party has grown into one of the country's largest uniformed auxiliary forces, with nearly 61 lakh members nationwide.