“I would like to ask you (Ansar and VDP personnel) to motivate rural people to get vaccinated so that all the people of Bangladesh get protection from the global coronavirus pandemic. Our efforts to this end will continue,” she said while addressing the 41st National Rally of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP.

The Prime Minister joined the event at Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy in Shafipur of Gazipur virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

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Noting that the Covid-19 inoculation programme has already started in the country, Sheikh Hasina asked every member of the Ansar and VDP to encourage every person to get vaccinated in due time. “Many people are even afraid of injection [getting the shot],” she added.

The Prime Minister went on saying, “We’ve taken measures so that people can get vaccinated in time alongside following the health protocol. We seek your (Ansar and VDP) cooperation in this regard.”

Hasina said people can get registered to get Covid-19 inoculation going to their nearby digital centres and urged all to be sincere so that they along with their family members take the vaccine.

At the function, the Prime Minister received a salute from a spectacular parade of the Ansar and VDP members.

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Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, on behalf of the Prime Minister, handed over eight categories of special medals to 140 Ansar and VDP members in recognition of their bravery and praiseworthy services.

The medals are Bangladesh Ansar Medal, President's Ansar Medal, Bangladesh VDP Medal, President VDP Medal, Bangladesh Ansar Services Medal, President's Ansar Services Medal, Bangladesh VDP Services Medal and President's VDP Services Medal.

Senior Secretary to Public Security Division Mostafa Kamal Uddin spoke at the function, while Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General Mizanur Rahman Shameem delivered the welcome speech.

The Prime Minister described the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP as the country’s largest public-oriented disciplined force.

She said over 50,000 women and men embodied members of Ansar, who are engaged in ensuring the security of different important government and private installations and structures, are making a significant contribution to the economic development of the country with their duties.

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Sheikh Hasina asked the members of the Ansar and VDP to continue their special role in protecting the country’s young generation from drug, militancy and terrorism. “I would like to ask you to give a special attention so that our children do not slip into a wrong path,” she added.

Noting that the members of the Ansar and VDP stand always beside people, Hasina said its members fully reined in the arson attacks unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat clique.

Focusing her government’s activities on development of the force, the Prime Minister said her government started modernising the Ansar after coming to power in 1996.

She cited various activities taken by her government, including modernisaiton of promotion and posting systems and trainings, introduction of ration facilities, a separate uniform, and medals (for recognition of performance), making service permanent.

The Prime Minister recalled the contributions of the Ansar to every movement saying that its commander Abdur Jabbar was martyred in the 1252 Language Movement and its 70 personnel alongside 30 lakh martyrs made their supreme sacrifice in the 1971 Liberation War.

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Besides, 12 Ansar members had been there in giving the guard of honour at the oath-taking function of the Mujibnagar government, she said adding that her government formed in 1996 started helping their family members.