Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Tuesday said that members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) will be deployed for nine days during the upcoming general election in February.
“The Ansar force will play a responsible role and help ensure that the election is held in a festive and orderly manner,” he said.
He made the remarks while briefing reporters after attending a handover ceremony of 31 vehicles to the Ansar, purchased with funds from the Bangladesh Ansar Welfare Trust, at the force's headquarters in Khilgaon, Dhaka.
Describing Ansar as the country’s largest force, the Home Adviser said they will play a crucial role in maintaining security during the polls.
“Thirteen Ansar members—ten armed and three unarmed—will be deployed at each polling centre in the upcoming election,” he added.
He further said that, for the first time in the country’s history, every presiding officer will be accompanied by an armed Ansar member for security.