Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed
Ansar and VDP is the largest community based disciplined organization of Bangladesh. The total number of this force is about 60 lakhs. The female members cover the half of the total number. The organization of the force is extended up to village level. In the villages, we have one male VDP platoon and one female VDP platoon each comprising of 32 members. In the union level, there is one Ansar male platoon and one female Ansar platoon each comprising 32 members. Most of them belong to local volunteer youth community having the training on different professions irrespective of caste and creed.In the process of strengthening the local govt. recently reformative recommendations for reorganizing the said institute have been paced before government. In the recommendations the very honorable members have opined about three tired local government, namely; zilla parishad, upazilla parisad and union parishad. This is indeed a very concrete and pragmatic suggestion to upgrade the position and status of local government and more over it is an imperative to make local government functional. As a matter of fact, in the process of administration good governance will be established in the grass root level. All he day to day matter will get new dimension and will be operative as well. Wd may think of all the activities about our rural development under the supervision of union parishad.Today the world has become a global village. If we can bring changes of villages, ultimately Bangladesh will be changed. If villages are ignored and no strategic policy will be taken for its overall development the nation in no way will reach the goal of development objectives. So villages should be focused under the umbrella of union parishad activities. To make the villages colorful and well-developed in true senses, government may think or take the most practical steps for involving all the VDP platoon under union parishad. In the villages, the Ansar-VDP members are enrolled only when certain conditions or requirements are satisfied or fulfilled. Any person willing to be enrolled as Ansar-VDP members in any village, he/she might follow or satisfy those conditions given Ansar-VDP HQ. An unhealthy and illiterate can in no way apply for the membership. After getting membership, he/she is enrolled and given he opportunity of having the training (military, civil and other vocational). In villages there is an option of enrollment for individual, who is fit or qualified. So people form all strata of life may be a member of Ansar and VDP. In villages, the village Imam, a teacher, a land lord, a landless and any individual may have the access. 
The Ansar-VDP members belonging to village platoon are not paid. They are volunteers only. So the concept of volunteerism does not affect any professional person to discharge his own area/field of income. As Ansar-VDP members are very conscious, sincere, careful and committed to life; these people may be involved in rural development activities. To ensure the implementation of over all development in every village, the Ansar-VDP members may be given the task and responsibility by union parishad. In this regard, some development committee may be formed locally, specially in the village level ensuring the participation of Ansar-VDP members. These committee activities may be monitored by upazilla Ansar-VDP office and local union parishad jointly. Under the banner of peace, security and other social mobilization we may mention the committee as Law and order committee, Total literacy movement project/program committee, Health project/management committee, Agriculture project/ management committee. Food and housing project/management committee, Flood and disaster project/management committee, Sports and cultural project/ management committee, Committee relevant to gender issues and other socio-economic committee as required. The trained youth of Ansar-VDP organization and its village platoon may be involved in those above mentioned committee also. If a well-trained and disciplined person is included in the committee, the project/program activity will be conducted smoothly and efficiently. There will be no scope of infiltration of pilferage, dishonesty or non-transference in any activity. On the other hand the project/program activities will be well monitored and supervised by those committee. If Ansar-VDP members are given the chance and empowerment through a state policy, the last tire of local government that is the union parishad will be strengthened and at the same time the other tires will also be made strong and healthy. If this is formulated the Ansar-VDP members individually will have a social recognition and at the same time Ansar-VDP force as a whole will be made effective, if it is immediately brought under the process of local government reformation. Without effectiveness there will be no productivity, no good output or performance. Gradually nation will lose speed, spirit, dynamism and; ultimately the development steering of the nation will collapse. Bangladesh is poor country with a large quantity of people. But it is a matter of great regret for the people of the country that no mentionable development has yet taken place. We all know that Ansar-VDP is a training oriented organization aiming at bringing socio-economic development, imparting training and maintaining peaceful law and order situation showing the highest standard of discipline comprising a vast number of work force in Bangladesh. Ansar-VDP is meant for social up-liftmen. If the members are properly trained they can contribute a lot in the nation building activities. Specially the poverty alleviation program, employment creation and human resource development activities will come to a reality if youths of Ansar-VDP organization are properly taken care of. We have spent a very long time without a good result of our state. If we want to survive better, sustain feasibility and humanity in every sphere of life and make a foot print of idealistic society; we must storm our head and heart and utilize our hands without delay. In this regard, our civil society, politicians, policy makers may capitalize the past experiences and with the realization of such concept may go ahead with service for establishment of a happy, prosperous and peaceful Bangladesh.
Writer, Columnist and Researcher &
Former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar VDP.