DHAKA, Feb 9, 2022 (BSS) - President M Abdul Hamid and Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina today 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.