Published: 07:15 PM, 10 September 2026
1 Lakh Trained TDP Volunteers to Prepare for Disaster Response in Dhaka
The Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, SGP, BAM, NDU, AFWC, PSC, has presented a comprehensive plan to deploy and digitally manage 100,000 trained Town Defence Party (TDP) volunteers to respond to earthquakes, fires and other sudden disasters in the capital.
The proposal was presented during a courtesy meeting with Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, MP, on September 8, 2026. The Director General highlighted the significant potential of the large volunteer network as part of the force’s ongoing reform and capacity-building initiatives.
During the meeting, the Ansar-VDP Director General outlined a plan to keep trained TDP volunteers ready on a ward-, zone- and police-station-area basis across Dhaka, a densely populated metropolis of around 35 million people. The volunteers, whose information would be maintained in the Ansar-VDP digital database, would serve as first responders during disasters and assist in emergency response, rescue operations, relief distribution and other humanitarian and rehabilitation activities.
The Director General also presented a training framework for the proposed 100,000 volunteers. In addition to basic training provided by the force, they would receive specialized and advanced training on earthquake response, firefighting and management of other sudden disasters. The initiative aims to establish an effective local disaster-response capacity through trained volunteers in different parts of the capital.
The Disaster Management and Relief Minister expressed a positive view of the proposed action plan. He also discussed with the concerned authorities the necessary steps and coordination required to implement the initiative effectively.
During the courtesy meeting, the Director General briefed the Minister on the ongoing reforms, capacity-building measures and various development initiatives of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force. He also highlighted the important role played by Ansar-VDP members in responding to different types of disasters across the country.
According to the Director General, Ansar-VDP members deployed at the local level in coastal areas and other parts of the country have recently been actively serving as first responders during floods and other disasters. In coordination with local administrations, they have participated in emergency response, rescue operations, relief distribution and various humanitarian activities.
The Minister was also briefed on the project titled “Enhancing Environmental Resilience and Adaptation Capacity of Climate Change Vulnerable Communities,” which is being implemented by Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force in different parts of the country, including coastal and hilly regions.
Under the project, environment-friendly plants, rainwater harvesting systems and Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems will soon be installed for local VDP members in Bagerhat, Dinajpur, Barguna and Rangamati.
The Minister praised the recent development and capacity-building initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force. He particularly thanked the Director General for the important role played by Ansar-VDP members in ensuring the smooth, peaceful and secure conduct of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
The meeting also discussed ways to make the direct participation of Ansar-VDP members in disaster management more effective. Particular emphasis was placed on disaster preparedness, rapid response, mitigation, rescue operations and coordination with local administrations to ensure effective disaster management at the grassroots level.
The Minister stressed the importance of providing full cooperation and necessary support to Ansar-VDP members deployed at the grassroots level during any disaster or emergency in the country.
If implemented, the proposed initiative will establish a well-organized network of trained TDP volunteers across different parts of Dhaka. The network is expected to play a vital role in providing rapid local-level response, rescue assistance and humanitarian support immediately following earthquakes, fires and other sudden disasters.
