President, PM greet Ansar-VDP members

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday greeted the members of Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) marking its founding anniversary. The force was formed as the "East Pakistan Ansars" in line with the East Pakistan Ansars Act of 1948, and officially launched on February 12, 1948.

Marking the day, the auxiliary force will hold its 42nd national assembly tomorrow amid daylong festivity. The national assembly and parade will be held at Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy at Shafipur in Gazipur where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to participate in the parade as the chief guest virtually. In separate messages, they wished success of all programmes marking the national assembly and continuous progress of the force.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said since its inception on February 12 in 1948, the Ansar force has been contributing to the country's socioeconomic development along with maintaining law and order. At the beginning of the Liberation War, he said, the main weapon of the first resistance of the Great War of Liberation was the 40,000 rifles of the Ansar forces.

On April 17, 1971, at Mujibnagar, Meherpur, the first government of Bangladesh (provincial government) was awarded the Guard of Honor by 12 fearless members of the Ansar, Hamid said, adding that 670 heroic members of this force sacrificed their lives in the great war of liberation. The president paid deep respects to the members of valiant Ansars who sacrificed their lives for maintaining law and order at different times including the great liberation war.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Ansar has a glorious role in the history of the country's Liberation War. This force plunged into the Liberation War in 1971 in response to the call of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said, recalling that 12 members of Asnar force presented guard of honour to the chief of the country's provincial government at Meherpur Amrokanon on April 17, 1971.

The premier paid deepest respects to all the martyrs including Language martyr and Ansar Commander Abdul Jabbar and 670 heroic Ansar who sacrificed their lives in the great war of liberation. She said the Awami League government has taken various steps to modernize and increase the capacity of this force such as introduction of new uniforms for the members of the force, provision of family

rations, increase in the amount of the ration-items of general Ansar, introduction of state medals in recognition of bravery and service and creation of new posts in different grades for officers. Steps have been taken to modernize all areas including the infrastructure of the force and as a part of this, construction of buildings with modern facilities is already underway at range district and upazila level, she continued.