A significant security breach has been uncovered within the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) just hours before the national polls. Authorities have dismissed 330 personnel who were illegally inducted into election security duties through a fraudulent scheme involving bribery and forged documentation.
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The Hatirjheel Bribery Scandal
The irregularities primarily centred on the Hatirjheel area of the capital. An investigation revealed that Mamun, a leader of the Town Defence Party (TDP) for Ward 22, orchestrated a sophisticated scam to enlist untrained individuals.
According to an official press release issued on Wednesday, 11 February, Mamun allegedly charged each recruit 400 BDT to produce counterfeit training certificates. Furthermore, it was discovered that he extorted an additional 1,100 BDT from each individual under the guise of securing their official posting. Following the verification of these corrupt practices, all 330 recruits were immediately relieved of their duties. Mamun is currently a fugitive, and law enforcement agencies have initiated legal proceedings against him.
Nationwide Crackdown on Irregularities
The purge was not limited to Dhaka. In Chittagong’s Kotwali Thana, 13 personnel were removed after it was confirmed they lacked the mandatory training required for election deployment.
Additionally, the force has taken a stern stance against political bias to ensure neutral oversight at polling centres. Two female unit leaders in the capital—Mst. Shahnaz Sultana (Ward 19, Gulshan) and Samsunnahar (Ward 40, Vatara)—were dismissed following preliminary evidence linking them to a “specific political party.”
Summary of Ansar Personnel Removals
| Location / Ward | Number of Personnel | Reason for Removal |
| Hatirjheel (Ward 22) | 330 | Bribery and use of forged training certificates. |
| Chittagong (Kotwali) | 13 | Lack of mandatory institutional training. |
| Gulshan (Ward 19) | 1 (Leader) | Alleged partisan political affiliation. |
| Vatara (Ward 40) | 1 (Leader) | Alleged partisan political affiliation. |
Maintaining Electoral Integrity
The Ansar and VDP management emphasised that physical fitness alone is insufficient for election duty; valid certification and institutional eligibility are non-negotiable. “We will not allow the election to be questioned through the involvement of fake certificate holders, unqualified individuals, or those under external influence,” the force stated.
With approximately 950,000 security personnel deployed nationwide to safeguard the voting process, the Ansar remains the largest contingent, contributing over 550,000 members. The swift removal of these 330 individuals is seen as a necessary measure to maintain public confidence in the security apparatus during this high-stakes electoral period.