3 new Ansar battalions in the offing

Send
Jamal Uddin
Published : 06:00, Aug 11, 2018 | Updated : 06:00, Aug 11, 2018

3 new Ansar battalions in the offingThe government has decided to form three new battalions of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party with a battalion to be deployed in Cox’s Bazar, officials said.
“A proposal on the formation of Battalion Ansar and creation of 416 posts was approved at the meeting of the Secretary Committee on Administrative Development on Jul 22,” Secretary (reform and coordination) at the cabinet division NM Ziaul Islam told Bangla Tribune.
A Battalion Ansar is consisted with 416 personnel including captain, deputy-captain, sergeant adjutant company commander, battalion quarter master, 42 lance nayeks, 38 nayeks, 12 habliders and members.
“(Of the three), one Battalion Ansar will be deployed in Cox’s Bazar,” Joint Secretary (Ansar) of the home ministry’s Public Security Division Habib Md. Halimuzzaman told Bangla Tribune.
At present, 1.1 million Rohingya people are living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar since they began fleeing the persecution of Myanmar military on August 2017.
Law and order situation is getting worse across the district with crime rates on the rise in the refugee camps that causing concern for the government.
Amid the growing concern, the government decided to deploy a new Battalion Ansar in Cox’s Bazar.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, Ansar and VPD Headquarters Deputy-Director (general) Mahabubur Rahman said, “Force is getting extended as other law enforcement agencies increasingly require Ansar’s assistance.
“There are two types of activities before and after a crime takes place. The pre-crime phase includes preventive steps, which the Ansar carries out most of the time.”
“Besides, Ansar always assists the other law enforcement agencies in addition to work with the Army and the Border Guard Bangladesh,” said Rahman.
According to sources at home ministry, at present, 36 men’s and two women’s Ansar and VDP battalions are in operation.
Seventy percent of the forces remain posted on duty across the country that includes protecting law and order situations, fighting terrorism in hill tracks and assisting police in cities’ traffic control.
More 15 percent are posted on the forces’ security and administrative work with another 15 percent is kept reserved or enjoys leave.
Usually, maximum 60 percent manpower of a force is posted on duty to keep it operational while in Bangladesh’s case 85 percent of Ansar forces are on duty, decreasing its soldiers working capability.
So, the home ministry proposed for three new battalions to increase the Ansar working capacity, sources said.

/hb/
Top