Ansar Bahini

        Ansar Bahini was raised on 12 February 1948 to help improve the law and order situation. In 1971 most of the members of this Bahini took part in the War of Liberation. The historical guard of honour to the first government of Bangladesh on 17 April 1971 at Mujibnagar was presented by the members of this Bahini. A total of 9 officers and 635 Ansar members sacrificed their lives for our independence. Among them one received the gallantry award “Bir Bikram” and two others received “Bir Protik”. Language martyr Abdul Jabbar was a member of this Bahini. Ansar Bahini was re-organized in 1972. Now, it is having its organization up to Union level. Every Upazila is having a company of 100 men and a Female Platoon of 32 members and every Union is having a platoon of 32 persons.

        The main responsibilities of Ansar Bahini as contained in Ansar Bahini Act 1995 (Act No. 3 of 1995) are:
 
                    a.     To assist the government or any organization of the government in matters/works related to human security.

                    b.     To participate in any other work related to human security.

                    c.      To participate in any work related to public welfare for socio-economic development of the country.

                    d.     To assist Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, BDR, Police and Battalion Ansar as and when directed by                             the government.

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Battalion Ansar

           Battalion Ansar was raised in line with the Armed Police Battalions in 1976 to augment the strength of the security forces. Its main job is to assist the armed forces and other law enforcing agencies. At present, there are 36 Male and 02 Female Ansar Battalions deployed all over the country. Bulks of the Battalion Ansars are deployed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) for Counter Insurgency Operation (CIO). One male and one Female Ansar Battalion will be raised in the current year.

        The main responsibilities of Battalion Ansar as contained in Battalion Ansar Act 1995 (Act No. 4 of 1995) are:

                    a.     To assist the government or any organization under the government in maintaining human security.

                    b.     To participate in any work related to public welfare for development of socio-economic condition of the                             country.

                    c.      To participate in disaster management.

                    d.     To participate in any other work as directed by the government.

                    e.     To assist Bangladesh Army, Navy, Air Force, BDR and Police as and when directed by the government.

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Village Defence Party

      To improve law and order situation and the socio-economic condition of the rural masses, VDP was raised on 5th January 1976. There is one male and one female platoon in every village. There is one male and one female Union Leader in each Union. Total strength of VDP is about 5.6 million of which 50% are women. The urban version of VDP is called the Town Defence Party or TDP. There are one male and one memale TDP platoon in each ‘ward’ of every Pouroshava/Metropolitan City. The VDP and TDP members are employed in socio-economic development income generating activities and in various awareness programmes.

        The main responsibilities of VDP as contained in VDP Act 1995 (Act No. 5 of 1995) are:

                    a.     To participate in work related to public welfare for development of socio-economic condition of the                             country.

                    b.     To assist in matters/works related to maintenance of law and order situation and human security.

                    c.      To perform any other duty, from time to time, as directed by the government.

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      During the last three decades, 36 regular Ansar battalions have been raised including one full fledged Female Battalion. It is indeed a unique force in the backdrop of our present socio-economic fabric. Besides, the Bahini has two other components - about 3 lac strong ‘Sadharon’ Ansars readily available for embodiment and deployment in a short notice; and the other is about 5.6 million strong volunteers of community based VDP. These able bodied members both male and female from the community can easily be converted into an effective resistance force against any aggressor.

DEPLOYMENT

Battalion Ansar

          15 X Ansar Battalions are deployed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) for security duties.

          9 X Ansar Battalions are deployed in Special Operation with Police in South-West and Western part of the country.

          12 X Ansar Battalions are deployed in other areas with Police for law enforcing activities and for admin and           security duty of our own establishment.

Embodied Ansar

          Approximately 29,000 'Sadharon' Ansars (Male and Female) are presently embodied and deployed with various            organizations and in KPIs for security and protection duty.

Hill Ansar & Hill VDP

         Approximately 600 Sadharon Ansars and 7,887 VDP members are embodied and deployed as Hill Ansar/VDP with          the Army in CHTs for security and protection duty.

National Standard 

         In recognition to its outstanding role and performance in socio-economic development of Bangladesh, Ansar & VDP was awarded the prestigious National Standard on 10th March, 1998.

Independence Day Award  
  
         Ansar & VDP teams participate in all games and sports of the country. Its female teams are the trophy winners in most of the events. The Bahini became champion in consecutive three Bangladesh Games held in 1992, 1996 and 2002. In recognition to its outstanding performance and contribution in the arena of games and sports, Ansar & VDP was awarded Independence Award in 2004.

Medals and Award
 
         Since 2002, during the last 06 years, 16 members of Bangladesh Ansar-VDP received ‘President’ and ‘Bangladesh Ansar & VDP’ medals and many awards for their gallantry and exemplary performance.
  
Cultural Activities 

          The organization proudly maintains a well-trained cultural troupe consisting of male and female members.
It represents the Organization at various national level programmes. A highly professional and colourful female band is a unique asset of the Organization and the country as well.

Creation of Leaders at Grass –Root Levels

      The Organization has been successful in creation of leadership at the grass-root levels which is evident from the fact that, in the last Union Council election 1,754 members of Ansar & VDP were elected as people’s representatives – 70 Chairmen, 753 Male and 931 Female members.

Micro Credit and Self Reliance Programmes

         Established in 1996, the Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank has been contributing significantly through micro credit in income generating and self reliance programmes for the members of the organization. It has 86 branches up to Upazila level. Currently about 84,026 members are availing loan amounting Tk 94,13,59,000/-. At the end of training, each trainee has to buy a share of Tk. 100 of the Ansar & VDP Unnayan Bank. Thus they become a shareholder of the bank which enables them to take micro credit to finance a small scale enterprise. Though it is not a very vibrant bank like the other private ones, still it is making marginal profits.  

WHAT WE STRIVE FOR

        There is a vision for which Bangladesh Ansar was revitalized and reconstituted into Battalion forces in 1976 along with the creation of Village Defence Party. That aim was not only to augment our defence capability but also to infuse vigour and aspiration among the rural masses so that they stand on their own feet and be self reliant. The idea was to make every citizen of the country a partner in the achievement of socio economic development.

        Our achievements in various fields of national rekindling in the last 3 decades need not be over emphasized. The far reaching effect of our activities is the true reflection of our success stories. However, there is no reason to be complacent and we are determined to strive for greater success. Our effort would continue to organise, train, motivate and support the rural men and women for the attainment of better tomorrow. We are always for peace, security and development.