Published: 07:33 PM, 26 October 2026 Last Update: 07:45 PM, 26 October 2026
Diplomats from Four Friendly Nations Visit Ansar-VDP Academy, Highlighting New Horizons for Bangladesh in Global Employment
Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from Singapore, Morocco, Kosovo and the Maldives visited the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force (Ansar-VDP) Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur, on Monday to observe the force’s training capabilities, modern technical training programmes and initiatives to develop a skilled workforce suited to domestic and international labour markets.
During a briefing by Ansar-VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud, the delegation was informed about the force’s training infrastructure, technology-driven skills development initiatives, vocational education programmes and employment opportunities in international labour markets.
The Director General outlined the organisational structure, training activities, modernisation initiatives and skills development programmes of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force, highlighting its contributions to public security and socioeconomic development.
As the country’s largest volunteer paramilitary force, with a network extending to the grassroots level, Ansar-VDP has played a significant role in national security and overall socioeconomic development for more than seven decades.
The Director General particularly highlighted the wide-ranging structural reforms undertaken by the force in response to the changing national context. These reforms include ensuring 50 per cent female representation at all levels and connecting members—from remote villages to the international arena—through an integrated network supported by its own modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform.
He also noted that the force continues to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through financial inclusion and grassroots entrepreneurship, supported by the Ansar-VDP Development Bank and the Project Sanjiban initiative.
“Our objective is not limited to ensuring internal security. Maintaining institutional transparency and discipline while developing a skilled workforce equipped for the demands of the 21st century is also one of our key priorities,” the Director General said.
He added that the force had established partnerships with various international organisations, including those in Japan, to promote ethical migration and develop information technology and technical skills in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) guidelines and global standards.
Through its own biometric and database systems, the force is working continuously to facilitate safe employment, training and remittance transfers through legal channels, without the involvement of intermediaries.
The Director General reaffirmed the force’s commitment to advancing with the highest levels of dedication and professionalism to ensure national security and empower economically disadvantaged communities. He cited the modern headquarters under construction in Tejgaon and the development of a contemporary, welfare-oriented institutional framework as important components of this vision.
Following the briefing, the delegation travelled by electric vehicle to the Marginal Power Training Centre (PSTC), where they visited several specialised training facilities and observed practical demonstrations.
The programme included a 6G welding workshop, training in green energy and solar power, a driving simulator demonstration, a mobile ICT training bus, cottage-industry training, a Japanese language training centre, a hospitality and culinary arts training centre, Aranya Abakash, and mass training programmes covering construction, driving and the garment industry.
The visitors were briefed on the practical aspects of the training programmes, the use of modern equipment and the opportunities available for acquiring employment-oriented skills. They expressed satisfaction with the quality of the training system and the facilities provided.
The visit underscored the importance of developing a skilled workforce through vocational and technical education. Skills in areas such as 6G welding, construction, driving, garments, hospitality and culinary arts can play a significant role in supporting industrialisation, expanding the service sector and meeting labour-market demands.
Similarly, training in solar power and green energy can contribute to sustainable development and the growth of an environmentally friendly economy. Combining ICT training with Japanese language education can further enhance trainees’ technical capabilities, language proficiency and adaptability to international working environments.
With a network of more than six million members, the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force has considerable potential to expand skills development and vocational training opportunities, particularly among marginalised communities. These initiatives can help trainees access employment, pursue self-employment and establish their own businesses.
The programmes can also help meet the demand for skilled workers in domestic industries and the service sector, prepare qualified personnel for overseas employment and contribute to increased foreign earnings. By strengthening the link between training, employment and economic participation, the force can further expand its role in public welfare.
Developing a skilled, self-reliant and productive population can support not only public security but also national development and social stability.
The visit by diplomatic representatives from the four friendly countries provided an important opportunity to showcase the training capabilities, modernisation efforts and skilled workforce development initiatives of Bangladesh Ansar-VDP on the international stage. It also opened avenues for potential cooperation and experience-sharing in training, technical skills development and employment-oriented initiatives aimed at empowering force members and marginalised communities.
Those attending the programme included the High Commissioner of the Maldives, H.E. Ms. Shiuneen Rasheed; Ambassador of Kosovo, H.E. Lulzim Pllana; Acting High Commissioner of Singapore, Mr. Philip Ong; and Ambassador of Morocco, H.E. Lalla Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali.
