Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ‘I want our country to move forward. This country will not go back. Bangladesh is moving forward and will move forward. With the steps we have taken in information technology, this Bangladesh will be smart. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said these things in the speech of the chief guest at the function organized on the occasion of the 43rd National Assembly of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force on Sunday afternoon. The Prime Minister said, ‘I have been able to provide 100% electricity today. We launched Bangabandhu Satellite-1. Metrorail has started. The subway will open. I am making a tunnel in the Karnaphuli river. Padma Bridge has been financed by ourselves. And Ansar forces were particularly involved in these installations. With the efforts of all of us, we will build a developed and prosperous gold Bangladesh. Emphasizing the utilization of all the uncultivated land of the country, the Prime Minister said, “Due to the corona epidemic, there has been a huge pressure on the economy at the international level. Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, not only our country, but the entire world has seen an economic recession. We have to be free from here. Let not even an inch of our land remain uncultivated. All uncultivated land should be cultivated. In this case, I think our Ansar forces and village defense forces can play a special role. You can contribute by teaching the villagers, working with them, growing crops, and preserving them. Expressing admiration at the parade of Ansar and Village Defense Forces, Sheikh Hasina said, “We have arranged for various officers of these forces to be upgraded to different grades and trained abroad. I have formed specialized grade and new battalion teams. We have taken steps to increase salaries and develop infrastructure. Monthly Honorary Allowances are being paid to Union Battalions. Allowances for ordinary Ansar members have been increased and new rations have been added. The process of regularization of Hill Ansar is also nearing completion. Construction of attractive office buildings with modern facilities has been undertaken in 27 upazilas. Nine have already been completed. We have taken various steps to ensure that our Ansar army can move in tune with the times. Earlier, the Prime Minister arrived at the parade ground of Safipur Ansar VDP Academy in Kaliakair Upazila of Gazipur at 11:30 am. On the occasion of the national rally, a parade was held by the officers of the army, battalion Ansar, General Ansar, and VDP-TDP members. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the salute as the chief guest. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, State Minister for Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell, and Senior Secretary of the Public Security Department of the Home Ministry were present at this time. Aminul Islam Khan, Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force Major General AKM Aminul Haque and Acting Commandant of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy. Fakhrul Alam. Cabinet members, parliamentarians, diplomats, senior government officials, and other guests were present in the parade. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented bravery and service medals to 180 people in 8 categories in recognition of the exemplary contribution of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force members in addition to their intelligence, dedication, honesty, foresight, compassion, etc. Zahidul Islam, assistant director of Ansar VDP Academy, said that after the ceremony, Bangabandhu’s sculpture ‘On the way to freedom’, built based on the six-point demands of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the sculpture of 12 Ansar members giving ‘Guard of Honor’ on April 17, 1971, and two of the main gates of the academy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the mural built next to it.
