Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the Ansar force to work for the national development alongside discharging their routine duties to ensure public security being the country’s biggest law enforcement agency in terms of their number.

“We expect you (ansar bahini) will perform your duties with honesty, utmost sincerity and bravery to ensure public security alongside making efforts to defeat the evil forces,” she said on Thursday (Feb 13) while addressing the 40th national rally of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) at Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Academy at Shafipur in Gazipur.

The premier simultaneously urged the Ansars to play enhanced role for country’s development as her government created a scope for all to make contribution to this end.

“You (ansar bahini) will perform the duties vested upon you accordingly as the country’s largest force,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina said, “The day is not far away when Bangladesh will be transformed into a developed and prosperous country free from poverty and hunger if we all work in unison for the noble cause.”

On her arrival at the rally venue, the Prime Minister was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and director general of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General Kazi Sharif Kaikobad.

Later, she inspected a parade of Ansar and VDP riding an open jeep and received salute.

The premier handed over eight types of special medals– Bangladesh Ansar Medal, President’s Ansar Medal, Bangladesh VDP Medal, President VDP Medal, Bangladesh Ansar Services Medal, President’s Ansar Services Medal, Bangladesh VDP Services Medal and President’s VDP Services Medal– to 143 Ansar and VDP members for their bravery and praiseworthy services.

Besides, she also handed over the posthumous medal to wife of late Golam Mostafa.

Sheikh Hasina later witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by Ansar and VDP members and joined a “darbar” of Ansar officers and members and marking the occasion by cutting a cake.