Over 212,000 Ansar-VDP members deployed for Durga Puja security

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) has deployed 212,818 members across the country to ensure peaceful and secure celebrations of Sharadiya Durga Puja, the principal religious festival of the Hindu community.

The deployment, effective from October 15 to 22, includes 146,488 male and 66,330 female members. In addition, 624 members organised into 104 striking force teams, comprising Ansar Battalion personnel, have been kept ready to respond swiftly to emergencies.

The security arrangements have been strengthened through modern technology, digital surveillance, trained personnel and coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Ansar-VDP headquarters on Thursday, the force's Director General, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, said initiatives over the past two years had brought positive changes through grassroots reforms, modernised training and the use of technology.

In line with the government's emphasis on employment-oriented education, college-based VDP training programmes have been introduced to develop young people into skilled personnel equipped with discipline, patriotism and public safety capabilities. Trained youths are applying their skills while performing security duties during this year's Durga Puja, he added.

Highlighting the importance of digital transformation in festival security, the director general said the Ansar-VDP Management Information System (AVMIS) manages information on around one million members, while the STDMS system helps ensure transparency and accountability in verification and deployment processes.

He said a modern financial management system enables allowances to be transferred directly to members' mobile financial service accounts. The force will maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards irregularities and corruption, taking necessary departmental and legal action against those involved, he added.

The director general also highlighted the role of the Sharadiya Surokkha App, a digital platform designed to support security monitoring and rapid response. Its three components—End-User, Responder and Oversight Panel—facilitate field-level information collection, situation monitoring and coordinated action.

VDP members deployed at puja mandaps will serve as end-users, providing essential security information and supporting immediate responses. Law enforcement agencies and the administration will act as responders, enabling swift, coordinated action during emergencies. The Oversight Panel will monitor overall operations, help address incidents and accidents, counter rumours and facilitate prompt problem-solving.

Considering the importance and sensitivity of different temples and puja mandaps, security personnel have been deployed under three categories. A total of 6,914 highly important mandaps have been assigned eight Ansar members each, while 11,781 important mandaps and 14,470 general mandaps have been assigned six members each.

The force expects that collective efforts and the participation of responsible citizens will help ensure peaceful, safe and festive celebrations across the country.

Ansar-VDP members are performing their duties with dedication, integrity and professionalism to protect public safety and uphold communal harmony, mutual respect and the spirit of religious tolerance.

At the meeting, the director general also awarded three Ansar members for their significant contributions to public safety.

Senior officials from the force's headquarters, media representatives and other relevant officials attended the briefing.