Bangladesh government has planned to establish 5 new Ansar battalion to enhance the capacity of the Ansar force in maintaining internal security and law and order Through this initiative a total of 2,125 posts will be created including 20 permanent cadre posts and 2,105 temporary posts.
Each battalion will consist of 425 members increasing the total number of Ansar battalions in the country from the existing 42 (39 male 2 female and 1 Ansar Guard battalion) to 47. This plan will strengthen the overall capacity of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (Ansar-VDP).
Background and Current Status Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party is a significant paramilitary auxiliary force in the country contributing to internal security law and order and national development activities. The battalion Ansar was formed in 1976 and currently the force has over 300,000 members.
Operating under the Ministry the force is engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts counter terrorism operations in the southwestern region and securing critical installations and individuals. The force operates under the Ansar Force Act of 1995 and the Battalion Ansar Act and it received the Independence Award in 2004.
Currently the 42 Ansar battalions in the country play a vital role in ensuring internal security. Recently, Ansar members have been deployed to ensure security during events like Durga Puja, demonstrating the force’s effectiveness.
Details of the New Battalion Formation
Post Creation: A total of 2,125 posts will be created with 20 permanent cadre posts (for long-term recruitment) and 2,105 temporary posts (for recruitment as needed). These posts will be allocated for the 5 new battalions.
Battalion Structure: Each battalion will consist of 425 members, which aligns with the total of 2,125 members for the 5 battalions (5 × 425 = 2,125).
Recruitment Process: A recruitment notice was recently published such as the announcement in August 2025 for over 9,000 posts. Eligibility criteria include being a Bangladeshi citizen unmarried of good character and proficient in the Bangla language.
primary objective of forming these new battalions is to enhance the capacity of the Ansar force to strengthen internal security, maintain law and order and improve disaster response capabilities.
force also supports social development through the Village Defence Party (VDP) in rural areas and the Town Defence Party (TDP) in urban areas contributing to initiatives like education expansion tree plantation population control and women’s empowerment. This initiative will create employment opportunities for the youth and strengthen the overall security system.
In light of recent events.such as the political unrest in 2024-25 and security challenges during Durga Puja this plan has become even more relevant.
