The government has deployed 5,000 armed members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party to 500 upazila health complexes across the country to strengthen security, prevent broker networks and irregularities, and ensure a safe environment for patients.
A guidance session for the deployed Ansar members was held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party. Additional Director General Brigadier General Mamunur Rashid attended the program as the chief guest.
He said: “As part of the government's national security plan, 10 members will be deployed at each upazila health complex around the clock on a rotational basis. The team will consist of a platoon commander, an assistant platoon commander, and 8 Ansar members.”
He said the members' primary responsibility would be to maintain discipline and security at healthcare institutions while ensuring uninterrupted services for the public.
Addressing the members, Mamunur Rashid said they would also play a role in preventing broker networks, illegal ambulance operations, medicine-related syndicates and other criminal activities at health complexes.
He said Ansar members had already demonstrated efficiency, integrity and professionalism while serving at government specialized hospitals and other healthcare institutions across the country, and urged them to maintain the same standard in their new assignments.
He said: “The force must preserve its reputation through discipline, integrity, dedication and responsibility. If any member is found involved in unethical or criminal activities at sensitive workplaces such as upazila health complexes, strict legal action will be taken against that member.”
The additional director general said a software-based verification system is being used to ensure transparency in the recruitment and deployment process. According to him, the system is helping select qualified personnel and strengthen the force's professionalism.
He also expressed hope that continued professionalism and disciplined performance by Ansar members would create more overseas employment opportunities in countries including Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Moldova.
According to relevant sources, the deployment is expected to address long-standing security concerns among field-level doctors and healthcare workers. The sources said the initiative could also help curb broker networks, enhance the safety of service recipients, protect government property at hospitals and improve overall discipline and healthcare service delivery.
