Ansar deploys 212,118 members for Durga Puja security

A total of 212,118 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party have been deployed nationwide to ensure security during Durga Puja, with additional personnel assigned to high-risk venues and 104 striking teams kept ready to respond to emergencies.

Eight members will be deployed at each high-risk puja mandap, while six will be assigned to other venues, Ansar Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud said at a press conference at the force’s headquarters on Thursday.

The force has received information on 33,165 puja mandaps across the country, of which 6,914 have been identified as important and requiring special security attention, he said.

The 104 striking teams will coordinate security among mandaps and respond swiftly to incidents to prevent opportunistic groups from turning minor disturbances into major unrest, the director general added.

The force will again use its “Sharadiya Surokkha App” to strengthen coordination, as it did last year. Around 66,000 members will be registered on the platform, allowing authorities to receive information quickly and coordinate with police and other law enforcement agencies when incidents occur.

Sajjad said a similar technology-based system had been used successfully during the previous parliamentary election, adding that the app would remain an important coordination tool during the festival.

The force also has its own monitoring system to oversee the activities of members assigned to security duties. “Action will be taken promptly if any irregularities or incidents are reported,” he said, warning that members found engaging in partisan conduct would also face action.

Acknowledging that the allowance for Ansar members deployed during Durga Puja remained low, the director general said each member received around Tk 450 to Tk 500 per day.

“A proposal has been submitted to increase their salaries and allowances,” he added.

He said members often had to remain on duty until late at night, making logistical support essential. Discussions had been held with the relevant ministry, and assurances of necessary support had been received, he added.

Asked about security challenges during the Hindu community’s largest religious festival, Sajjad said maintaining the presence of members at their assigned locations was crucial despite their relatively limited numbers. Food and other essential facilities at puja mandaps remained major logistical challenges, he added.

The force would work with puja celebration committees to ensure necessary facilities for members on duty.

Sajjad said members had been instructed to remain patient and perform their duties responsibly if crowds or tensions arose. They had also been directed to maintain control of situations and continue their duties even if attacked.

On preventing rumours and improving security coordination, he said the force had coordinated with police and other law enforcement agencies. District-level briefings and coordination meetings involving different agencies had also been held.