DHAKA, Feb 11, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party
(VDP) will celebrate its 40th founding anniversary tomorrow.
Marking the day, the auxiliary force will also hold its national assembly
amid daylong festivity.
The force was formed as the “East Pakistan Ansars” in line with the East
Pakistan Ansars Act of 1948, and officially launched on February 12, 1948.
On the occasion, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
today greeted the members of the Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP).
In separate messages, they wished success of all programmes marking the
national assembly and continuous progress of the force.
In his message, President Abdul Hamid said since its inception on February
12 in 1948, the Ansar force has been contributing to the country’s
socioeconomic development along with maintaining law and order.
At the beginning of the Liberation War, he said, about 40,000 rifles of the
force were the arm-power of the struggle of independence.
Recalling the contribution of the force to the 1952 Language Movement and
the War of Liberation, he said a total of 670 members of this force embraced
martyrdom during the War of Liberation in 1971.
The President said Ansar members have been playing an important role in
ensuring the country’s overall security and public safety since its
inception.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Ansar has a glorious
role in the history of the country’s Liberation War.
This force plunged into the Liberation War in 1971 in response to the call
of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said,
recalling that 12 members of Asnar force presented guard of honour to the
chief of the country’s provincial government at Meherpur Amrokanon on April
17, 1971.
Since its inception, the Ansar-DVP has been working to ensure security of
public property and socioeconomic development, the Prime Minister said,
adding that members of this force are discharging their duties during
significance occasions of the nation.
Sheikh Hasina said the Ansar-DVP is an important partner of the country’s
development and progress, while the patriotism and sincerity of the largest
disciplinary force is appreciable.