Diplomatic representatives from Singapore, Morocco, Kosovo and the Maldives visited the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force (VDP) Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur, on Monday to observe its training facilities and initiatives to develop skilled workers for domestic and international labour markets.
During the October 26 visit, Ansar-VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud briefed the delegation on the force’s training infrastructure, technical skills development, modernisation and contributions to national security and socioeconomic development.
He said the force, with a network of more than six million members extending to grassroots communities, had been contributing to national security and socioeconomic development for over seven decades.
Highlighting institutional reforms, the director general said initiatives had been taken to ensure 50 per cent female representation at all levels. A modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform has also been introduced to connect members across the country and internationally.
He added that the Ansar-VDP Development Bank and Project Sanjiban were supporting financial inclusion and grassroots entrepreneurship, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The force was also working with Japan and other international organisations to promote ethical migration and develop technical and information technology skills in line with International Labour Organization principles and global standards, he said.
The delegation later visited the Prantik Shakti Training Centre (PSTC) in electric vehicles and toured its 6G welding workshop, solar power and green energy training facilities, driving simulator, mobile ICT training bus, cottage-industry training centre, Japanese language centre, and hospitality and culinary training facilities.
They also observed training programmes in construction, driving and the garment industry. The visitors expressed satisfaction with the quality of training and available facilities.
The director general said the force aimed to facilitate safe overseas employment, training and legal remittance transfers through biometric and database systems, reducing reliance on intermediaries.
Vocational training in welding, construction, garments, hospitality, ICT and renewable energy can help meet domestic labour-market demand while preparing workers for international employment, officials said.
The visit offered an opportunity to showcase the force’s training capacity and workforce development initiatives and explore potential cooperation and experience-sharing.
The visiting diplomats were Maldives High Commissioner Shiuneen Rasheed, Kosovo Ambassador Lulzim Pllana, Singapore Acting High Commissioner Philip Ong and Moroccan Ambassador Lalla Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali.
