Bangladesh Ansar VDP – Problems and Prospects

Ansar and VDP is the largest community-based disciplined organisation in Bangladesh.

This is a force of huge potentialities. But it is underutilised. For the proper utilisation, this force needs to be empowered.

This force should come under the platform of comprehensive action programme. That is, reformation is a demand of the time.

Late President Zia had a plan to make it a vibrant force to expedite the nation building activities.

Thanks a lot to the Prime Minister TariqueRahman as I request his visionary leadership to fulfill the unfinished misson of one favourite President Zia.

On the occasion of the 46th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Ansar VDP, I as a pioneer of Ansar cadre, convey my every felicitation to Prime Minister TariqueRahman wishing a dynamic leadership, the way President Zia upheld.

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, we have 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.

Since the inception of Ansar-VDP, its members have been taking part in law and order activities, socio-economic development activities, and performing various other activities for alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life.

As the majority of its members are working at the grassroots level voluntarily & individually, no mentionable study or survey has been done regarding the success, failure, or impact of their performances.

Ansar-VDP has a long tradition and mentionable historical achievement. In 1971, during Pakistan’s crackdown, the then-volunteer Ansar members participated.

In the “War of Liberation, 9 officers, 3 staff, and 635 volunteer members who belonged to the Ansar organization dedicated their lives.

A historical guard of honor was given by trained Ansar members at Mujibnagar to the first head of the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

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. This year it is likely to be celebrated in the month of May, in a shortcut way.

Today, Ansar VDP is not confined in its nomenclature, but its idea has expanded to the very depth and height with some noble mottoes and objectives taken by the enrolled members in a very challenging way, especially in the fields of communication networks, total defense systems, safety and security of various key point installations, industries, and above all, socio-economic development of the nation.

Whether there is any message for nation-building activities is yet to be announced this time.

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.

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).