Bangladesh Ansar

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 6.1 million active and reserved members. It is the largest paramilitary force in the world.[5]

Bangladesh Ansar
বাংলাদেশ আনসার
Insignia of Bangladesh Ansar
Insignia of Bangladesh Ansar
Flag of Bangladesh Ansar
Flag of Bangladesh Ansar
Common nameAnsar Bahini
Agency overview
Formed12 February 1948
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionBangladesh
Specialist jurisdictions
  • Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control.
  • Protection of international or domestic VIPs, protection of significant state assets.
Operational structure
HeadquartersKhilgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sworn members6.1 million
Elected officer responsible
Agency executives
Notables
Significant Battles
Anniversary
  • 12 February
Award
Website
ansarvdp.gov.bd
Service uniform:Olive, Black
  

History
Ansar member weaving on duty.

The name originates from the Arabic word of "Ansar", which denotes a "volunteer". The Ansar were the local inhabitants of Medina who, in Islamic tradition, took the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his followers (the Muhajirun) into their homes when they emigrated from Mecca during 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.[1] The force grew quickly. By early 1949 there were 118,000 Ansars. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Ansar were deployed to the border areas along with the East Pakistan Rifles to support the Pakistani army.[4]

Bangladesh War of Liberation

During the Bangladesh War of Liberation of 1971, many of the Ansar joined the Bangladesh Forces guerrillas to fight against the Pakistani army.[4] 12 Ansar members presented a guard of honour to the Bangladesh government in exile at 8 Theatre road on 17 April 1971.[6] As a result, the Ansars were disbanded by the Pakistani government.[6] A new paramilitary force was then established, the now infamous Razakar militia.[7][8]

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.[9]

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.[1] At present, there are 38 Male and 2 Female Ansar Battalions deployed all over the country. Battalion Ansars are mainly deployed in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) for Counter Insurgency Operations (CIO) and south-western region of the country for Counter Terrorism Operations.[2][6]

1994 mutiny and reforms

In 1994, a mutiny against low pay and unfair treatment was suppressed by the Bangladesh Rifles.[10][11] 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][6]

In 1998, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP were awarded the National Standard, and in 2004 it was awarded the Independence Award.[6] 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.[12]

Role

The stated missions of Ansar are:

  • To assist Government or Any Authority under Government in matters of Public Security ;[1][6][13]
  • To take part in any public welfare activities as per the Government's instructions to improve socio-economic conditions of the country.
  • To assist Law Enforcement agencies in metropolitan and industrial security.
  • To assist Bangladesh Armed Forces in national defense during war;[2][4][9]
  • To provide security to national VIPs, CIPs and diplomats as per the Government's instructions.
  • To take part in any disaster management activities as per the Government's instructions.

The members of Ansar also participate in education expansion programs, tree plantation, population control, women's empowerment, and sanitation activities.[2][14]

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.[15]

The Ansar is headed by a director-general, who also heads the Village Defence Party (VDP).[16]

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.[17]

Headquarters

The headquarters of the Ansar is located in Khilgaon, Dhaka and the training facilities are located at the Bangladesh Ansar & VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur, north of the national capital, Dhaka.[2][9]

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 12-gauge Pump action shotgun  Turkey Quantity 14,100.[18][19][20]
Benelli Supernova 12-gauge Pump action shotgun  Italy Quantity 1,800.[18][19][20]
Unknown model 12-gauge Semi-automatic shotgun  United Kingdom Quantity 14,100.[18][19][20]
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. Nabi, Khondaker Md Nur Un. "Ansar and Village Defence Party". Banglapedia. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  2. "PM urged Ansar-VDP members to help resist militants". BDNews24. 23 January 2006.
  3. Heitzman, James; Worden, Robert, eds. (1989). "Auxiliary Forces". Bangladesh: A Country Study. Washington, D.C.: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. p. 237.
  4. "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. "Bangladesh ansar & village defence party". The Guardian. Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  7. Staff Correspondent (31 October 2012). "Razakar was launched with 96 Jamaat men". The Daily Star. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  8. "First Razakar camp in Khulna turns into ghost house after Liberation War". www.observerbd.com. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  9. Taru Bahl, M.H. Syed (2003). Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 184–85. ISBN 978-81-261-1419-1.
  10. Chowdhury, Afsan. "What Lies Below". Forum. The Daily Star. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  11. "Ansar militiamen clench their fist and shout sloga". Getty Images. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  12. "It'll provide security to foreign diplomats, missions: FM". The New Nation. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  13. "Protect public life, property". The Daily Star. No. 1. UNB. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  14. "বাংলাদেশ আনসার ভিডিপি তে নতুন নিয়োগ বিজ্ঞপ্তি প্রকাশ ।". 30 May 2022.
  15. "Bangladesh Ansar and VDP are the largest single forces in the world". ourtimebd. 6 July 2020.
  16. "Profile of Director General". Bangladesh Ansar & VDP – Government of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  17. "Bangladesh Ansar and VDP are the largest single forces in the world". ourtimebd. 6 July 2020.
  18. "৩০ হাজার শটগান পাচ্ছে আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনী" (in Bengali). Channel 24. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  19. "আনসার পাচ্ছে ৩০ হাজার শটগান !!" (in Bengali). susongbad24. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  20. "রংপুরে আনসার ও গ্রাম প্রতিরক্ষা বাহিনীর শটগান প্রশিক্ষন" (in Bengali). দৈনিক রংপুর. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
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