Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
Ansar and VDP is the largest community-based disciplined organization in Bangladesh. The total number of this force is more than 60 lakhs. The female members cover half of the total number. The organization of the force is extended up to village level.
In the villages, it has one male VDP platoon and one female VDP platoon, each comprising 32 members. At the union level, there is one Ansar male platoon, and in every Upazilla, there is one Ansar company, each comprising 32 and 100 members, respectively.
Practically, the Bangladesh Ansar-VDP has many problems and limitations of the force. Firstly, we want to mention Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank.
This bank is not well equipped and modernized. The general banking system does not function here. This bank should be made vigilant, vibrant, and competitive in terms of financial rules and regulations.
Secondly, according to the organogram, Bangladesh Ansar-VDP has one periodical named “the Protirodh.”. The periodical is the spokesman of the force, which will reflect all activities of Bahini, but its activities have been made very casual and routine.
Publications are not up to the mark, and hence it fails to achieve the objective of the force. This needs to be revitalized. This problem needs to be resolved immediately. Fourthly, there is a provision of a 10% quota in government service for Ansar-VDP trained members, but it is only on paper. There is no implementation of it.
Previously, proposals for the reformation of the Ansar VDP organization were projected to the ministry several times. But those were opposed sometimes from the police side and sometimes from the army.
In the long run, the Ansar Bahini and its members have been deprived of getting their due rights. In this context, we can say that the tragic 1994 incident happened in the name of mutiny. Virtually, there were the results of deprivation. Again, that happened in 2024, which caused a great trauma in the organization, followed by severe sufferings of punishment and facing the challenges of social problems of their livelihood.
Under the above circumstances, it requires reformation and revitalization of the force. Ansar VDP may be reformed by giving specific rules and responsibilities.
At present, it is auxiliary in nature when only they are embodied by government order for puja duty or election duty. They do the duty under police command. Moreover, they do policing by attachment in police stations or camps and necessary operational activities.
The Ansar fellows do every work jointly, but credit goes to others. In the midst of such a framework of job nature, Ansar fellows are suffering from an image crisis. Also, there is an identity problem.
So conception must be changed-if not, break it rather to save them from the concept of dependence. The provision for sending the soldiers and officers in the peacekeeping mission, like other forces, should be opened as soon as possible.
The officers are visiting and undergoing training courses in Turkey. The Turkish government is very eager for the orientation of their gendarme force.
As a process, force activities sharing and participation of courses by soldiers from the Ansar Battalion should be incorporated. In the long run, like the UN mission in Turkey or any other country mission such as Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, and China, HRD and comprehensive training missions may be introduced. Through this process, bilateral relations will develop, and the force’s goal will be achieved.
The force has considerable capability and potential to address any challenges related to socio-economic development, law and order, and human security issues in the country. Although Ansar and VDP have a lot of potential to face any challenge, they still have many limitations.
The force does not have the necessary logistical support and legal capacity to conduct operations as an effective force.
The Bangladesh Ansar and VDP forces have immense potential to address any challenge to the socio-economic development, law and order, skilled human resource development, and human security of the rural marginalized people of Bangladesh.
The notable achievement done by Ansar VDP in human resource development is recommendable and a matter of appreciation in the country. The people trained by Ansar VDP are the skilled manpower at home and abroad.
The organization is a key factor in changing a man to skilled manpower, and finally, human resource development will come to a reality. The immense prospects of Ansar VDP in our nation-building activities may be evaluated.
If the potentiality is utilized and members are properly trained, they can contribute a lot to attaining prosperity and pragmatic change in present Bangladesh. Especially the poverty alleviation program, employment creation, and human resource development activities will come to a reality if Ansar VDP members are properly taken care of.
Every year, Ansar-VDP Day is being observed on 12 February. The Ansar force was supposed to be brought under the reforms program, but it was not there, for which the members’ morale may be down. If the potentiality is utilized and members are properly trained, they can contribute a lot to attaining prosperity and pragmatic change in present Bangladesh.
However, for better changes in the development of Bangladesh, the Ansar VDP could be well equipped as a force of local government in the concept of compulsory military training. Moreover, this volunteer force may be strengthened in line with human resource development.
The local government may be reformed and restructured by using the force in a multidimensional way.
Finally, we can say that in fact the rural development of Bangladesh will surely be a functional tool for the future rebuilding of the nation in full. We wish every success for Bangladesh Ansar VDP on the occasion of its foundation day.
(The writer is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, and Rotary Learning Facilitator, Rotary Club,
Dhaka Elite).
