Over 2 lakh Ansar-VDP members assigned to Durga Puja security

A total of 212,118 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) have been deployed across the country to ensure security during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, the force's director general has said.

Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud announced the deployment at a press conference at the Ansar headquarters in Khilgaon, Dhaka, on Thursday (October 15). He said eight Ansar members would be assigned to each high-risk puja mandap and six to each regular mandap, alongside 104 striking patrols to respond swiftly to any untoward incidents.

According to the director general, information on 33,165 puja mandaps has been registered nationwide, with 6,914 classified as important. The force will also use its ‘Sharadiya Surokkha’ app, which will have 66,000 registered members, to facilitate rapid information sharing and coordination with police and other law enforcement agencies.

Mahmud said the force had introduced monitoring arrangements to oversee deployed personnel and would take action against any member found engaging in misconduct or showing bias.

He also acknowledged logistical challenges, including food and other essential support for personnel on duty. Members receive around Tk 450-500 a day in allowances, and a proposal to increase their pay and benefits has been submitted, he added.

- MaT