Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (February 12, 2024) asked the members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) to stand with courage and sincerity to resist any ill attempt to ensure public security. “As the largest force in the country, you have to rightly perform the duty bestowed upon you. You will have to resist any evil move to protect the public safety. You should do it with honesty, courage and sincerity,” she said.    The prime minister made this call while addressing the 44th national rally-2024 of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP at Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur. She said it is a sacred duty of her government to ensure security to the people and investment, and uphold peace. Read more: PM directs to be active on GI products “To maintain political stability, proper economic environment and continuation of democratic governance are prerequisites for the overall development of the country,” she said, asking all to uphold such an environment in the country. Focusing on the country’s development attained during her government,  Hasina said Bangladesh now has capacity to tackle any situation. The PM requested all to work hard with honesty to continue the country’s development journey.    She recalled the contribution of the country’s largest force Ansar-VDP, having 61 lakh members and 42 battalions including two women battalions and a specialised battalion, to ensuring security to public and private structures and organisations.     Read more: Explore new markets for Bangladesh's export items: PM Hasina tells BGMEA The prime minister said if Ansar is asked to perform duty for any national cause, they do it properly. “Even now our Ansar members have been discharging their duties with very competence in various important places starting from different foreign embassies stationed in Bangladesh,” she said. She appreciated the role of Ansar members to protect the country’s assets, including that of Bangladesh Railways from arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat group in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023. Highlighting her government’s steps to modernise the Ansar and VDP,  Hasina said now the force is now earning fame at home and abroad. “We’ve been working to develop the Ansar and VDP,” she said. The PM reiterated her government’s conviction to protect the country from terrorism, militancy and drugs. “Our drive against corruption will always continue,” she said. She hoped the Ansar and VDP will continue their duty in containing the social diseases in future as well. Mentioning her government’s vision 2041 to build a Smart Bangladesh, PM Hasina said Ansar and VDP will also be developed as a smart force and will continue working for the development of the country. She said the government will make every village a smart and safe locality in Smart Bangladesh. On her arrival at the rally venue, the prime minister was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque. The Prime Minister inspected a parade of Ansar and VDP from an open jeep and received salute. She handed over eight types of special medals to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their bravery and praiseworthy services. The medals are Bangladesh Ansar Medal, President Ansar Medal, Bangladesh VDP Medal, President VDP Medal, Bangladesh Ansar Services Medal, President Ansar Services Medal, Bangladesh VDP Services Medal and President VDP Services Medal. The PM later witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by Ansar and VDP members.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (February 12, 2023) reiterated that the country will never look back again and it will move forward to become a developed, prosperous, and smart Bangladesh. “Insha Allah, this country will never look back again. Bangladesh is advancing and will advance more… it will be ‘Smart Bangladesh’. We will have the ‘Sonar Bangla’,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing the 43rd National Assembly-2023 of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP as the chief guest at the Ansar and VDP Academy in Gazipur’s Shafipur. Read more: Allow more women to excel in science: PM to int’l community She said that the country was liberated with the supreme sacrifice of blood during the Liberation War. “Today Bangladesh got the recognition of a developing country, and we want to advance further. We want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country, alongside ensuring socioeconomic progress,” she said. People in the country will not beg to anyone, she said. Read More: Encourage people to pay tax instead of harassment: PM Hasina asks revenue collectors Sheikh Hasina said that the coronavirus pandemic created immense pressure on the economy at the international level, while Russia-Ukraine war caused global recession, not just in Bangladesh. “I urge everyone to follow the footsteps of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman… do not keep a single inch of arable land unutilized,” she said. “For that Ansar and VDP can play a special role. They can help people in the villages and engage them in various cultivation activities to produce crops and preserve those. I hope that you will contribute,” the PM added. Read More: Off duty OCs clash with Ansar over parking at amusement park Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan, and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque welcomed the prime minister when she arrived at the venue. The PM handed over medals to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields. She also inspected the parade and witnessed a smartly-turned out contingent of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP. Later, she witnessed choreography and a cultural programme. Read More: Shotguns, bullets snatched from Ansar members recovered; 10 held.

Bangladesh Ansar and VDP won a cycling competition with one gold, silver and bronze. The competition was held in the capital's Hatirjheel area to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence.  Read:Central Asian Volleyball Challenge: Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh to be crowned men’s champions Bangladesh army won the runners-up award with one gold and bronze. Bangladesh Ansar won in the women’s competition while Banglades Army won the men’s competition.  Read:Bangladesh’s Iconic Sports Achievements in 2021 About a hundred cyclists joined the competition in 22 different teams.  Sanjida Khanom, the acting chair of the Bangladesh Cycling Federation, handed the award to the winners.

Bangladesh Ansar & VDP made a good start in the Bangabandu Federation Cup Men's Handball Tournament' 2020 beating Team Handball Dhaka by 50-17 goals in the opening match Saturday morning at the Shaheed (Capt) M Mansur Ali National Handball  Stadium here.

Bangladesh Ansar & VDP clinched the Bangabandhu 30th National Women’s Handball title beating BJMC by 33-25 goals in the final at the Shaheed (Captain) M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium here on Tuesday.