Bangladesh Ansar Explained

Agencyname:Bangladesh Ansar
Nativenamer:বাংলাদেশ আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনী
Logocaption:Insignia of Bangladesh Ansar
Flag:Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Flag.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of Bangladesh Ansar
Motto:Bengali: শান্তি শৃঙ্খলা উন্নয়ন নিরাপত্তায় সর্বত্র আমরা
Mottotranslated:We are everywhere in peace, order, development and security
Formed:12 February 1948
Preceding1:East Pakistan Ansars (1948-1972)
Employees:6.1 Million
Governingbody:Ministry of Home Affairs
Country:Bangladesh
Speciality2:protection
Speciality1:paramilitary
Headquarters:Khilgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Minister1name:M Sakhawat Hossain
Minister1pfo:Minister of Home Affairs
Chief1position:Director General
Chief1name:Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud
Chief2name:Brigadier General Khondoker Farid Hasan
Chief2position:Additional Director General
Child7agency:-->
Activitytype:Battles
Anniversary1:12 February
Award1:
    Footnotes:Service uniform

    Olive, Black

    The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনী; also known as the Ansar Bahini or Ansar VDP) is a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for the preservation of internal security and law enforcement in Bangladesh.[1] [2] It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh.[3] It has 6 million active and reserved members. It is the largest paramilitary force in the world.[4]

    History of Ansar

    The name originates from the Arabic word of "Ansar", which denotes a "volunteer". The Ansar were the local inhabitants of Medina who, in Islamic tradition, took the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers (the Muhajirun) into their homes when they emigrated from Mecca during the hijra.[5] [3]

    The Ansar Force was formed as the "East Pakistan Ansars" by the East Pakistan Ansars Act of 1948, and officially launched on 12 February 1948.[3] The first director of the Ansar was James Buchanan, a British official appointed by the government of then-Chief Minister of East Bengal Khawaja Nazimuddin.[3] The force was placed under the administration of the home ministry of the province of East Bengal (later known as East Pakistan).

    The emphasis was on recruiting in border areas, where Ansars were deployed to interdict smuggling and prevent emigrants from taking valuables out of the country illegally. The force grew quickly. By early 1949, there were 118,000 Ansars. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the then East Pakistan Ansars were deployed to the border areas along with the East Pakistan Rifles to support the Pakistani Army.[3] [6]

    Bangladesh Liberation War

    See main article: Bangladesh Liberation War and Razakars (Pakistan). During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, 40,000 Ansars joined the Bangladesh Forces and joined the guerrillas and assisted the Bengali members of the East Pakistan Police to fight against the Pakistani Army.[7] [8] [9] [10] 12 Ansar members presented a guard of honour to the Bangladesh government in exile at 8 Theatre road on 17 April 1971. As a result, the Ansars were disbanded by the Pakistani Government. A new paramilitary force was then established, the now infamous Razakar militia.[11] [12] [13]

    Post-independence

    After the independence of Bangladesh, the force was reconstituted as the Bangladesh Ansar. The Ansar were given fresh importance by the government of President Ziaur Rahman, which designated the Ansar as the "people's defence force" and formed Ansar battalions.[14]

    Raising of Ansar battalions

    In 1976, 20 Battalions of Ansar were raised in line with the Armed Police Battalions to augment the strength of the security forces. At present, there are 38 male and 2 female Ansar Battalions deployed all over the country. Battalion Ansars are mainly deployed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) for Counter Insurgency Operations (CIO) and south-western region of the country for Counter Terrorism Operations.

    1994 mutiny and reforms

    In 1994, a mutiny against low pay and unfair treatment was suppressed by the Bangladesh Rifles.[15] [16] This prompted a series of reforms by successive governments including the Ansar Bahini Act (1995), Battalion Ansar Act (1995) and the Village Defence Party Act (1995). Under these Acts, the Ansar Bahini and the Battalion Ansars were declared a "Disciplined Force" in accordance with article 152 of the Constitution. The government also set up "Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank" where the members of Ansar-VDP members were entitled to loans and shares.

    In 1998, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP were awarded the National Standard, and in 2004 it was awarded the Independence Award.[17] The service of battalion Ansars was under National Pay Scale in October 2008, and they were entitled to family rations and combat uniform. In 2006, the role of Ansar-VDP was expanded to fight rising militancy. In 2016, the Ansar Striking Force, a 300 strong elite unit, was created to provide security to diplomats.[18]

    Role

    The stated missions of Ansar are:

    The members of Ansar also participate in education expansion programs, tree plantation, population control, women's empowerment, and sanitation activities.[20]

    Organization

    At present there are three branches of Ansar Bahini; the General Ansar, the Battalion Ansar, and the Village Defence Party (VDP). Their combined draw is over 6 million, which is the largest force in the world as a paramilitary or single force.[21]

    The Ansar is headed by a director-general, who also heads the Village Defence Party (VDP).[22]

    Director General

    Director General of Bangladesh Ansar, also known as Ansar and VDP Chief, is the professional head of the Bangladesh Ansar. The current DG is Major General AKM Aminul Haque.[3]

    The Director General functions from the Bangladesh Ansar Headquarters, which is located in the Khilgaon, Dhaka.[23]

    Headquarters

    The headquarters of the Ansar is located in Khilgaon, Dhaka and the training facilities are located at the Bangladesh Ansar & VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur, north of the national capital, Dhaka.

    Equipment

    NameImageCaliberTypeOriginNotes
    Type 929×19mm ParabellumSemi-automatic pistol
    Type 567.62×39mmAssault rifle
    Type 56 (SKS)7.62×39mmSemi-automatic carbine
    BD-15 LMG7.62×39mmLight machine gunLight machine gun variant of Type 81 assault rifle.
    RPD7.62×39mmSquad automatic weapon/Light machine gun Soviet Union
    Type 807.62×54mmRGeneral-purpose machine gun
    Type 677.62×54mmRGeneral-purpose machine gun
    ESCORT MP-PG https://hatsan.com.tr/product/escort-mp-pg/12-gaugePump action shotgunQuantity 14,100.[24] ">Web site: আনসার পাচ্ছে ৩০ হাজার শটগান !!. susongbad24. bn. 30 October 2020. 2 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201102012546/https://www.susongbad24.com/2051. dead. [25]
    12-gaugePump action shotgunQuantity 1,800."/>
    Unknown model 12-gaugeSemi-automatic shotgunQuantity 14,100."/>
    Type 63-160 mmMortar

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Nabi . Khondaker Md Nur Un . Ansar and Village Defence Party . 3 May 2017 . Banglapedia.
    2. News: PM urged Ansar-VDP members to help resist militants. 23 January 2006. BDNews24.
    3. Web site: About Bangladesh Ansar & VDP . Bangladesh Ansar & VDP – Government of Bangladesh . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312060541/http://www.ansarvdp.gov.bd/contentShow.php?action=showconts&id=4 . 12 March 2016 . 27 September 2010.
    4. Web site: 2021-06-27 . 6.1 million Ansar VDP members ready to enforce lockdown, says its director general . 2023-02-03 . Dhaka Tribune.
    5. Book: 1989 . Heitzman . James . Worden . Robert . Auxiliary Forces . Bangladesh: A Country Study . Washington, D.C. . Federal Research Division, Library of Congress . 237.
    6. Web site: 3 September 2021 . Ansar and Village Defence Party - Banglapedia . 2024-05-04 . Banglapedia.
    7. Web site: Role of Bangladesh Ansar and VDF in socio-economic development - - observerbd.com . 2024-05-04 . The Daily Observer.
    8. Web site: Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party . ansarvdp.rajbari.gov.bd.
    9. Web site: 14 November 2022 . Charishwardia Union . charishwardiaup.mymensingh.gov.bd.
    10. News: Probir . Kumar . Sarker . 9 March 2017 . East Pakistan had many pro-Pakistani army officers . 2017-03-09 . Dhaka Tribune.
    11. Web site: Staff Correspondent . 2012-10-31 . Razakar was launched with 96 Jamaat men . 2023-04-26 . The Daily Star . en.
    12. Web site: First Razakar camp in Khulna turns into ghost house after Liberation War . 2023-04-26 . www.observerbd.com.
    13. Web site: Razakar . 2024-05-11 . Banglapedia.
    14. Book: Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World. Taru Bahl, M.H. Syed. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd.. 184–85. 2003. 978-81-261-1419-1.
    15. News: What Lies Below. Forum . The Daily Star. Chowdhury. Afsan. 12 December 2016.
    16. Web site: Ansar militiamen clench their fist and shout sloga. Getty Images. 5 October 2004 . 12 December 2016.
    17. News: Bangladesh ansar & village defence party. The Guardian. Bangladesh. https://web.archive.org/web/20141024133518/http://www.theguardianbd.com/bangladesh-ansar-village-defence-party/. 24 October 2014. 3 May 2017.
    18. News: It'll provide security to foreign diplomats, missions: FM. The New Nation. en. 11 April 2020.
    19. News: Protect public life, property. 12 February 2016. The Daily Star. UNB. 1. 3 May 2017.
    20. Web site: বাংলাদেশ আনসার ভিডিপি তে নতুন নিয়োগ বিজ্ঞপ্তি প্রকাশ । . 30 May 2022 .
    21. News: Bangladesh Ansar and VDP are the largest single forces in the world. 6 July 2020. ourtimebd.
    22. Web site: Profile of Director General . Bangladesh Ansar & VDP – Government of Bangladesh . 27 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140701211621/http://ansarvdp.gov.bd/home_content.php?action=contshome&id=1 . 1 July 2014 . dead .
    23. News: Bangladesh Ansar and VDP are the largest single forces in the world. 6 July 2020. ourtimebd.
    24. Web site: ৩০ হাজার শটগান পাচ্ছে আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনী. Channel 24 . bn. 30 October 2020.
    25. Web site: রংপুরে আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনীর শটগান প্রশিক্ষন. দৈনিক রংপুর . bn. 30 October 2020.