A total of 212,118 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force have been deployed across the country to ensure security during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, with 104 striking patrols on standby to respond to any untoward incidents.
Ansar members will be assigned in teams of eight at high-risk puja mandaps and six at regular mandaps, according to the force's Director General, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud.
He disclosed the information at a press conference held at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force in Khilgaon, Dhaka, on Thursday morning.
The Director General said information on 33,165 puja mandaps across the country had been recorded, of which 6,914 had been classified as important and would receive special security attention.
The 104 striking patrols will coordinate security among puja mandaps and respond quickly to any incidents. They will remain prepared to prevent isolated incidents from escalating into larger disturbances, he said.
The force will also use the ‘Sharadiya Surokkha App’ for security coordination, as it did last year. Around 66,000 members will be registered on the app, enabling rapid information sharing and coordination with police and other law enforcement agencies in the event of an incident.
The Director General said similar technology-based arrangements had been used successfully during the last national parliamentary election. The app would again serve as an important tool for coordination during the festival.
He added that the force has its own monitoring system to oversee the activities of deployed personnel. Any reported irregularities or incidents would be addressed promptly, and action would be taken against members found engaging in biased conduct.
Regarding allowances, the Director General acknowledged that the daily payment for Ansar members deployed during Durga Puja was relatively low, at around Tk450–500 per person. A proposal has been submitted to increase their salaries and allowances, he said.
He noted that members often have to remain on duty until late at night, making logistical support essential. Discussions have been held with the ministry concerned, and assurances of necessary assistance have been received.
The Director General said one of the key objectives of ongoing reforms within the force was to develop a stronger service-oriented mindset among members and encourage them to perform their duties with sincerity despite limited facilities.
Asked about security challenges during the festival, he said ensuring the proper attendance and deployment of personnel remained important despite constraints in manpower and logistics. Food and other essential facilities for members stationed at puja mandaps would be ensured through coordination with puja celebration committees.
He said personnel had been instructed to remain patient and exercise restraint if crowds gathered or tensions arose. Even if they faced attacks, they had been directed to maintain control of the situation while continuing to perform their duties.
On preventing rumours and ensuring coordination, the Director General said briefings had been held at the district level and coordination meetings conducted with police and other law enforcement agencies. The Sharadiya Surokkha App would further facilitate the rapid exchange of information and coordinated responses.
Durga Puja celebrations are scheduled to take place from October 16 to 21. The Director General said necessary instructions had been issued to field-level personnel to ensure a peaceful and festive celebration across the country.
