Ansar-VDP gets recruiting licence for overseas jobs

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) has taken a major step towards expanding skilled overseas employment opportunities for its members with the inauguration of the newly built Prantik Shakti Training Centre (PSTC) and the formal handover of a government recruiting licence to its associate organisation, Prantik Shakti Limited.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury, MP, Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, handed over the licence and inaugurated several initiatives at a ceremony held at the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur, on Wednesday. The programme was chaired by Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud.

The minister arrived at the academy at 10am and attended a briefing at the conference room of the administrative building before formally inaugurating the new PSTC.

Following the inauguration, he visited the centre’s 6G welding workshop, modern driving simulator, green energy (solar power) training facilities and mobile ICT training bus. He also inspected the cottage industry training centre, Japanese language training centre and language laboratory, hospitality and culinary training facilities, and other technical training sheds.

The minister praised the modern facilities and internationally oriented training methods introduced at the academy. He later planted a commemorative tree near the Darbar Hall on the academy premises.

At around 12:30pm, the minister formally launched the digital platform Prantik Travels and a smart Facial Attendance System at a programme held at the academy auditorium.

Representatives of three Japanese companies that are partners in agreements with the Avi Welfare Trust also joined the event virtually and expressed satisfaction with the skills of Ansar-VDP members and the potential for bilateral cooperation.

In his welcome address, Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud said overseas employment had been given the highest priority to improve the livelihoods of the force’s 6 million members.

He said training capacity had been modernised under the government’s 180-day programme. Agreements with leading Japanese companies were nearing finalisation, while the potential creation of around 200,000 jobs in connection with the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan presented a significant opportunity for which Ansar-VDP’s trained workforce was being prepared.

He stressed that skills development and compliance with international standards were essential to building confidence in the global labour market.

The director general said the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) could coordinate with Ansar-VDP’s grassroots network and its 104 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) to expand skills development and overseas employment opportunities.

He added that the newly launched digital database would be linked with BMET to ensure transparency. A dedicated customer relationship management (CRM) platform would also provide continuous services and security assistance to members working abroad.

Addressing the programme as chief guest, Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said Ansar-VDP’s training projects would become important partners in implementing the Prime Minister’s broader plan to send skilled workers abroad.

He expressed confidence that the recruiting licence would enable Ansar-VDP to make its overseas employment activities more institutionalised, dynamic and effective.

The minister also said initiatives would be taken to operate Ansar-VDP training projects in coordination with TTCs. He stressed that all workers going abroad must be equipped with appropriate skills and that established legal procedures must be strictly followed.

The recruiting licence for Prantik Shakti Limited and the inauguration of PSTC are expected to create new opportunities for safe and lawful overseas employment for Ansar-VDP members.

Through technical, technological and language training tailored to international labour market demands, the initiative aims to develop skilled workers at the grassroots level, prevent exploitation by middlemen and enhance Bangladesh’s reputation in the global labour market.

The addition of the Ansar-VDP Development Bank’s affordable expatriate loan facility, Prantik Travels and the digital facial attendance system is also expected to make overseas employment procedures and related expenses more accessible and manageable.

During the ceremony, the force presented a special commemorative crest to the chief guest. The programme concluded with a cultural performance and a luncheon for invited guests at the academy auditorium.

Among those attending were Gazipur-1 MP Md. Mujibur Rahman, the secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ansar-VDP Additional Director General Brigadier General Mamunur Rashid, Academy Commandant and Additional Director General Md. Saifullah Russell, and other invited guests.