Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud said that 2 lakh 12 thousand 192 trained Ansar-VDP members will be deployed in 32 thousand 666 pujamandaps of the country to ensure the security of Autumn Durga Puja.
He said that the members will be engaged in the security of the shrine for 6 days from October 8 to October 13.
He said these things at a press conference organized on the occasion of the upcoming Autumn Durga Puja-2024 at the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force headquarters in Khilgaon, capital, on Saturday (October 5).
Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud said, considering the ongoing situation in the country, based on the assessment of all security agencies, Ansar members have been deployed in places of worship as more important, important and general, considering the security risk.
He said, 8 Ansar-VDP members will be deployed in 'most important' mandaps and 6 in 'important' mandap and 6 in 'ordinary' mandap. Besides, 53 thousand 148 members of Ansar-VDP will work till October 6 and 7 in 15 thousand 32 puja mandapas from the 'more important' and 'important' mandapas under special consideration.
Battalion Ansar will work as a striking force for the first time this year for the security of Puja. In this context, he said, a total of 92 teams of battalion Ansars will work as a mobile striking force to deal with any emergency situation in 64 districts across the country. Each team will have 6 members.
The DG of Ansar said that they will take quick measures to coordinate the security of all the puja mandaps through regular security patrols for 8 days during the puja. Members of Ansar and VDP will play an active role in the overall security of the people, maintaining peace and order and providing emergency services while performing their duties.
He said that for the first time this year the due allowance of the deployed members will be distributed as soon as the puja is over, which will help in increasing the motivation and morale of Ansar and VDP members to complete their important duties properly.
Apart from this, he said that in order to maintain law and order during autumn Durga Puja celebrations, all the members of the force other than traditional religion members have been discouraged from taking leave.
In the press conference, Ansar Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud expressed optimism that it will be possible to celebrate the Autumn Durga Puja festival in a peaceful and joyful atmosphere with the collective efforts of all. Therefore, he urged all the citizens of the country to help maintain proper security measures by providing timely information to the law and order forces at this time.