Village Defence Party

The Village Defence Party (VDPs) is a law enforcement force in Bangladesh, organised in distinct units at the level of individual villages and urban towns. It is administered by the Home Ministry of the central Government of Bangladesh. Although domestic security is its main objective, the Village Defence Parties are also specifically charged with working on village development and welfare schemes.[1][2]

Village Defence Party
Active1976–present
Country Bangladesh (1976–present)
AllegianceBangladesh
TypeInternal Security, Law Enforcement, Gendarmerie
Garrison/HQGazipur, Bangladesh
Anniversaries26 March
EngagementsBangladesh Liberation War
Decorations1. Bir Sreshtho
2. Bir Uttom
3. Bir Bikrom
4. Bir Protik
Commanders
ChairmanMajor General Mizanur Rahman Shamim

History

The Village Defence Party system was created by Ziaur Rahman, the late President of Bangladesh in 1976 as part of his "self-sufficient village government plan." The equivalent of the VDP for small towns is the "Town Defence Party."[1][2] After Zia's assassination in 1981, the VDPs became less prominent, but its role in local development was re-emphasized as part of President Hussain Muhammad Ershad's decentralisation policy.[1] In 1988, the total numbers participating in VDPs across the nation stood at 10 million.[1]

Organisation

The current strength of the Village Defence Parties is 5.6 million, of whom 50 percent are women.[2][3] Each VDP unit is uniquely organised with equal numbers of men and women.[2] For every village, there is one platoon of men and a platoon of women.[2] Similarly, there is one platoon of men and another of women in every ward of metropolitan cities in Bangladesh.[2] At union level command channel, there is one male and one female Union Leader in each Union.[2] The director general of the Bangladesh Ansar is also the chief of the Village Defence Party.[4] The post is currently held by Major General Mizanur Rahman Shamim.

References
  1. Taru Bahl, M.H. Syed (2003). Encyclopaedia of the Muslim World. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 184–89. ISBN 978-81-261-1419-1.
  2. "About Bangladesh Ansar & VDP". Bangladesh Ansar & VDP - Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  3. Henrik Alffram (2009). Ignoring executions and torture: impunity for Bangladesh's security forces. Human Rights Watch. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-56432-483-2.
  4. "Bangladesh Ansar & VDP". Bangladesh Ansar & VDP - Government of Bangladesh. Retrieved 27 September 2010.

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