Bangladesh Ansar

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Bangladesh Ansar
বাংলাদেশ আনসার
Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
  • Bangladesh Liberation War
  • Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict
  • 1994 Bangladesh Ansar mutiny
  • 2015 Bangladesh–Arakan Army border clash
    • Anniversary
    • 12 February
    Award
    Website
    ansarvdp.gov.bd
    Service uniform:Olive, Black
      

    The Bangladesh Ansar (also known as the Ansar Bahini) is a paramilitary auxiliary force responsible for the preservation of internal security and law enforcement in Bangladesh.[1][2] It is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh.[3][4] It has 6 million active and reserved members. It is the largest paramilitary force in the world.[5]

    History of Ansar

    Ansar member weaving on duty.

    The name originates from the

    hijra.[3][4]

    The Ansar Force was formed as the "East Pakistan Ansars" by the East Pakistan Ansars Act of 1948, and officially launched on 12 February 1948.[4] The first director of the Ansar was James Buchanan, a British official appointed by the government of then-Chief Minister of East Bengal Khawaja Nazimuddin.[4] The force was placed under the administration of the home ministry of the province of East Bengal (later known as East Pakistan).

    The emphasis was on recruiting in border areas, where Ansars were deployed to interdict smuggling and prevent emigrants from taking valuables out of the country illegally.

    East Pakistan Rifles to support the Pakistani Army.[4][6]

    Bangladesh Liberation War

    Main articles: Bangladesh Liberation War and Razakars (Pakistan)

    During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, 40,000 Ansars joined the

    Razakar militia.[12][13][14]

    Post-independence

    After the independence of Bangladesh, the force was reconstituted as the Bangladesh Ansar. The Ansar were given fresh importance by the government of President Ziaur Rahman, which designated the Ansar as the "people's defence force" and formed Ansar battalions.[15]

    Raising of Ansar battalions

    In 1976, 20 Battalions of Ansar were raised in line with the Armed Police Battalions to augment the strength of the security forces.

    Counter Insurgency Operations (CIO) and south-western region of the country for Counter Terrorism Operations.[2][11][6]

    1994 mutiny and reforms

    In 1994, a

    Bangladesh Rifles.[16][17] This prompted a series of reforms by successive governments including the Ansar Bahini Act (1995), Battalion Ansar Act (1995) and the Village Defence Party Act (1995).[1] Under these Acts, the Ansar Bahini and the Battalion Ansars were declared a "Disciplined Force" in accordance with article 152 of the Constitution.[1] The government also set up "Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank" where the members of Ansar-VDP members were entitled to loans and shares.[1][11]

    In 1998, Bangladesh Ansar and

    Independence Award.[11] The service of battalion Ansars was under National Pay Scale in October 2008, and they were entitled to family rations and combat uniform.[4] In 2006, the role of Ansar-VDP was expanded to fight rising militancy.[2] In 2016, the Ansar Striking Force, a 300 strong elite unit, was created to provide security to diplomats.[18]

    Role

    The stated missions of Ansar are:

    The members of Ansar also participate in education expansion programs, tree plantation, population control, women's empowerment, and sanitation activities.[2][20]

    Organization

    At present there are three branches of Ansar Bahini; the General Ansar, the Battalion Ansar, and the Village Defence Party (VDP). Their combined draw is over 6 million, which is the largest force in the world as a paramilitary or single force.[21]

    The Ansar is headed by a director-general, who also heads the Village Defence Party (VDP).[22]

    Director General

    Director General of Bangladesh Ansar, also known as Ansar and VDP Chief, is the professional head of the Bangladesh Ansar. The current DG is Major General AKM Aminul Haque.[4]

    The Director General functions from the Bangladesh Ansar Headquarters, which is located in the

    Khilgaon, Dhaka.[23]

    Headquarters

    The headquarters of the Ansar is located in

    Gazipur, north of the national capital, Dhaka.[2][15]

    Equipment

    Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
    Type 92 9×19mm Parabellum Semi-automatic pistol  China
    Type 56 7.62×39mm Assault rifle  China
    Type 56 (SKS) 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic carbine  China
    BD-15 LMG 7.62×39mm Light machine gun  Bangladesh Light machine gun variant of Type 81 assault rifle.
    RPD 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon/Light machine gun Soviet Union
    Type 80 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun  China
    Type 67 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun  China
    ESCORT MP-PG [1]
    12-gauge
    Pump action shotgun
    		  Turkey Quantity 14,100.[24][25][26]
    Benelli Supernova
    12-gauge
    Pump action shotgun
    		  Italy Quantity 1,800.[24][25][26]
    Unknown model
    12-gauge
    		 Semi-automatic shotgun  United Kingdom Quantity 14,100.[24][25][26]
    Type 63-1 60 mm Mortar  China

    See also

    References

    Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Country Studies. Federal Research Division.

    1. ^ a b c d e f g Nabi, Khondaker Md Nur Un. "Ansar and Village Defence Party". Banglapedia. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
    2. ^
      BDNews24
      . 23 January 2006.
    3. ^ a b Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Auxiliary Forces". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 237.
    4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "About Bangladesh Ansar & VDP". Bangladesh Ansar & VDP – Government of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
    5. ^ "6.1 million Ansar VDP members ready to enforce lockdown, says its director general". Dhaka Tribune. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
    6. ^ a b c d "Ansar and Village Defence Party - Banglapedia". Banglapedia. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
    7. ^ a b "Role of Bangladesh Ansar and VDF in socio-economic development - - observerbd.com". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
    8. ^ "Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party". ansarvdp.rajbari.gov.bd.
    9. ^ "Charishwardia Union". charishwardiaup.mymensingh.gov.bd. 14 November 2022.
    10. ^ Probir, Kumar; Sarker (9 March 2017). "East Pakistan had many pro-Pakistani army officers". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
    11. ^ a b c d e f "Bangladesh ansar & village defence party". The Guardian. Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
    12. ^ Staff Correspondent (31 October 2012). "Razakar was launched with 96 Jamaat men". The Daily Star. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
    13. ^ "First Razakar camp in Khulna turns into ghost house after Liberation War". www.observerbd.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
    14. ^ "Razakar". Banglapedia. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
    15. ^
      ISBN 978-81-261-1419-1
      .
    16. ^ Chowdhury, Afsan. "What Lies Below". Forum. The Daily Star. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
    17. ^ "Ansar militiamen clench their fist and shout sloga". Getty Images. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
    18. ^ "It'll provide security to foreign diplomats, missions: FM". The New Nation. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
    19. ^ "Protect public life, property". The Daily Star. No. 1. UNB. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
    20. ^ "বাংলাদেশ আনসার ভিডিপি তে নতুন নিয়োগ বিজ্ঞপ্তি প্রকাশ ।". 30 May 2022.
    21. ^ "Bangladesh Ansar and VDP are the largest single forces in the world". ourtimebd. 6 July 2020.
    22. ^ "Profile of Director General". Bangladesh Ansar & VDP – Government of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
    23. ^ "Bangladesh Ansar and VDP are the largest single forces in the world". ourtimebd. 6 July 2020.
    24. ^ a b c "৩০ হাজার শটগান পাচ্ছে আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনী" (in Bengali). Channel 24. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
    25. ^ a b c "আনসার পাচ্ছে ৩০ হাজার শটগান !!" (in Bengali). susongbad24. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
    26. ^ a b c "রংপুরে আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনীর শটগান প্রশিক্ষন" (in Bengali). দৈনিক রংপুর. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
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