President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday urged members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) to play a more effective role in maintaining law and order at the grassroots level while contributing to nation-building activities.

He made the call when Director General of Ansar-VDP Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban, President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told UNB.

During the meeting, the President praised the contributions of the force to maintaining public security following the July 2024 mass uprising, the 13th parliamentary elections and various other state activities.

He stressed the need for enhancing the professionalism, discipline and public engagement of Ansar members and underscored the need to make them skilled and employment-ready through training in foreign languages, technical skills and technology.

The Ansar director general congratulated President Mirza Fakhrul on assuming office and briefed him on various activities of the force.

He particularly informed the President of quality training programmes for Ansar members aimed at creating employment opportunities at home and abroad, developing a database of members, microcredit programmes and initiatives to generate solar power at the grassroots level.

Sazzad Mahmud also sought the President's guidance and cooperation in discharging the force's responsibilities.

The President described Ansar-VDP as the country's largest security and disciplined force with extensive public engagement.

He recalled the contribution of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to reforms in the Ansar force, particularly the establishment of the Ansar Battalion.

Mirza Fakhrul also recalled with respect the role of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in modernising the Ansar force, enacting various laws and establishing Ansar Bank.

He praised the force's contributions to solar power generation, human resources development, sports and cultural activities as well as various people-oriented initiatives, and called for undertaking more programmes and activities in the coming days.

The President assured the Ansar-VDP chief that his continued support for the development of the force will remain in place during his tenure.

The President's secretaries and senior officials concerned were present during the meeting.