6 Lakh Ansar Members to Serve as ‘First Line of Defense’ in National Elections: DG

Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP) is fully prepared. Around 6 lakh Ansar members will serve as the ‘first line of defense’ at polling stations and will coordinate with other law enforcement agencies.

On Thursday (23 October), at the Ansar-VDP headquarters, Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud stated that, for the first time, the Ansar force will operate under a digital monitoring system to ensure impartial duty and transparency during the elections.

Through this digital system, each member’s National ID (NID) number, QR code, and duty information will be stored. This will allow real-time tracking of their performance, location, and behavior. The DG said that on election day, the Ansar members will act as a symbol of security and public confidence.

Special emphasis has been placed on training. Since 6 August, Ansar members have been receiving basic training, including leadership, advanced, and youth leadership courses. After the election schedule is announced, a two-to-three-day refresher course will be conducted, covering code of conduct, polling station security, crowd management, and communication techniques.

To ensure neutrality and competency, data from previous members will be filtered. Age limits have been reduced to 18–25 to include more young and active members. Currently, female members make up about 50% of the force, and efforts are being made to place men and women equally in leadership roles. Each upazila training center will have one male and one female trainer.

Major General Sajjad Mahmud also stated that both armed and unarmed Ansar members will be deployed for election duties, and new uniforms, jackets, and safety equipment are being provided. He emphasized that the Ansar force will now operate systemically rather than being individually dependent. Beyond elections, the force contributes year-round to development, disaster response, and social awareness programs.

Currently, the Ansar force has around 6 million members, with 5.9 million serving as volunteers. To improve their livelihoods, the ‘Sanjiban Project’ provides support including group-based microloans, entrepreneurship training, and vocational training in areas like driving, nursing, and freelancing.

Source: BSS