Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud has called for coordinated efforts to prevent rumours, provocation and disorder during Durga Puja, stressing the importance of protecting communal harmony.
He made the call while visiting the Purba Chandra Shri Shri Kali and Durga Temple in Gazipur on Saturday to inspect security arrangements and assess the activities of Ansar-VDP members deployed for the festival.
The director general said more than 212,000 Ansar-VDP personnel had been deployed across the country to ensure security at Durga Puja mandaps. Another 104 striking teams were ready to respond swiftly to any untoward incidents.
He said the force was also using the digital security platform *Sharadiya Surokkha App* to facilitate real-time information sharing, monitor situations and coordinate necessary responses.
Emphasising the importance of cooperation, he said Ansar-VDP members were performing their duties professionally in both rural and urban areas. He added that local administration, law enforcement agencies, puja committees and the public must work together to maintain a peaceful and secure environment.
The director general urged people to remain alert so that no group could undermine communal harmony through rumours, incitement or attempts to create disorder. He called for any unexpected situation to be handled with patience, awareness and responsibility.
He also encouraged unemployed young people to participate in the force's skills development and income-generating training programmes to improve their employment and self-employment opportunities.
Referring to the *Sanjiban Project*, he said the initiative aims to involve disadvantaged communities in economic activities, reduce unemployment and improve living standards.
Ansar-VDP reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and to ensuring peaceful, secure and festive celebrations at puja mandaps across the country.
