Work to protect people's lives, property
PM asks Ansars and VDP
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina takes salute at the 32nd National Conference of Ansar and VDP at Ansar Academy in Safipur, Gazipur yesterday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the members of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP to discharge their duties with utmost honesty, sincerity, and courage for ensuring people's security. "It is your sacred duty to protect the lives and property of people", she said at the inauguration of the 32nd National Conference of Ansar and VDP at Ansar Academy in Safipur, Gazipur. Hasina said no other government has done anything for the modernisation and development of Ansar and VDP like the Awami League government. She said that for the first time in 1998, she gave Ansar and VDP the national flag and took the initiative to regularise the jobs of the members of the force. The jobs of some 12,215 battalion Ansars have so far been made permanent and it has been recognised as a law enforcement agency according to the Local Government (City Corporation, Pourashava, Union Parishad) Act, 2009, she said. Terming Ansar and VDP as a traditional force of the country, Hasina said around 50 lakh of its members render voluntary services in villages and rural areas. She said that for the welfare of the force, her government has established Ansar and VDP Bank, which is playing an important role in the socio-economic development of Ansar and VDP members through micro-credits. She said the minimum daily allowance of the enlisted Ansar members has been increased to Tk 180 from Tk 111 while the training allowance to Tk 90 from Tk 60. In recognition to the force's contributions, Bangladesh Ansar has been given the responsibility to present guard of honour every year marking the Mujibnagar Day on April 17, Hasina said. The premier said a modern training centre is going to be set up at the Ansar Academy to impart training on handicrafts. She said her government has a plan to set up Bangabandhu Technical Complex at the Ansar Academy here. On her arrival at the Ansar Academy, Home Minister Shahara Khatun and State Minister Shamsul Huq Tuku received the prime minister. Ansar and VDP director general Maj Gen M Zahidur Rahman was also present. The premier inspected the Ansar & VDP parade and took the salute. She distributed 12 Ansar medals, 7 President's Ansar medals, and two President's VDP Medals. She also inaugurated Ansar-VDP Technical Training Centre, Ansar-VDP Information System Centre, and Ansar-VDP Garment Training Centre. Later she held a meeting with the Ansar-VDP officials at the Officers' Mess.
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