Ansar members to serve as first line of defense at polling centers

Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP) is fully prepared to ensure security during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, with 600,000 members set to be deployed across the country.

Ansar personnel will serve as the first line of defense at polling centers, working in coordination with other law enforcement agencies to maintain order and ensure a peaceful voting environment.

In an interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the force’s Director General, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, said trained Ansar members will be assigned to every polling center and remain digitally connected with the headquarters to ensure transparency and neutrality in their duties.

“On election day, Ansar members will act as a symbol of public security and trust,” he said, emphasizing that this year’s deployment will feature enhanced monitoring and training.

For the first time, Ansar force will introduce a digital monitoring system for election duties.

The DG explained that each member’s information; including their NID number, QR code and duty details, will be integrated into a centralized software system, allowing real-time tracking of performance, presence and behavior.

Training efforts have been ongoing since August 6 last year, including leadership, advanced and youth leadership programs.

“Refresher training will be held for two to three days after the election schedule is announced,” Mahmud said. “It will focus on code of conduct, polling center security, crowd control and communication skills.”

He added that a larger number of Ansar and VDP members have been trained in and around Dhaka; including in Narayanganj, Gazipur, Cumilla and Tangail, to ensure sufficient manpower for key urban areas like Dhaka and Chattogram.

Last year alone, 120,000 members completed their training, while preparations and refresher programs are ongoing ahead of the election.