Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said corruption is the biggest enemy of the state, warning that it is not only causes economic damage but also erodes state institutions and destroys public trust.
He made the remarks while addressing the concluding parade of the 21st Basic Training of 41st BCS (Ansar) cadre officers, newly recruited police station/upazila instructors, and the 26th and 27th batch (male) recruited sepoys of the Ansar Battalion at the Yad Ali Parade Ground of the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy here.
The adviser said if any Ansar member acts out of personal interest, greed or political motives, it weakens the foundation of the state.
“Bangladesh Ansar and VDP members are not forces of any political party or vested group,. you are government employees paid by the tax money of the people,” he said.
Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud and senior officials were present at the event.
Emphasizing the role of disciplined forces in elections, the adviser said all members must shoulder the sacred responsibility of conducting a free, fair and impartial election for the country’s welfare.
He said extensive preparations have been underway since August last year to ensure a peaceful and credible 13th national election.
According to the Home Adviser, under the new training policy, about 56,000 Upazila/Thana Company Ansar, 255,000 VDP and TDP members, and over 3,000 Ansar Battalion members have already received basic training.
Around 450,000 members have also been enrolled through STDMS software for election duties.
He said a total of 5, 55,958 Ansar-VDP members will be deployed at 42,766 polling stations nationwide.
Each polling station will have 13 armed, 6 unarmed male and 4 unarmed female members.
In addition, 1,191 Ansar Battalion Striking Force Teams, comprising 11,910 members, will be deployed to strengthen election security.
The adviser issued strict instructions to refrain from any immoral, biased or irresponsible behaviour that could disrupt the election process.
Calling the day a milestone in the professional lives of the newly trained members, he said Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force is the countries largest disciplined public defence force, with a proud history of serving during the Language Movement of 1952, the Liberation War of 1971 and other national crises.
He urged members to reject illegal orders and partisan activities, stressing that true courage lies in standing against injustice.
“Honesty, morality and conscience must be your greatest strengths,” he added.
Earlier, the Home Adviser inspected the parade, took the salute and distributed prizes among the best smart trainees.
Assistant Director Shamim Reza of the 41st BCS Ansar Cadre, Upazila Trainer Sohanur Rahman Russell, Sepoy Md. Selim Shahriar of the 26th batch and Sepoy Md.
Maruf Rana of the 27th batch were awarded as the best smart trainees in four categories.
A record 3,237 trainees took part in this year’s passing out parade, the highest number in the history of Ansar.
They included 15 officers of the 41st BCS Ansar Cadre, 88 Upazila Trainers, 1,100 members of the 26th Ansar Battalion and 2,124 members of the 27th Ansar Battalion.
