Ansar-VDP Launches Facial Attendance System and Technical Training Centre

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force has launched a facial attendance system and a digital platform alongside a new technical training centre to expand technology-enabled services and develop a skilled workforce. The newly built Prantik Shakti Training Centre (PSTC) will provide technical and vocational training. Meanwhile, the force’s affiliated organisation, Prantik Shakti Limited, has received a recruitment licence for overseas employment.

The initiatives were launched and the licence handed over at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 28, at the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury attended as the chief guest. The event was chaired by Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, director general of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Force.

The Prantik Travels digital platform was launched alongside a facial attendance system designed to support technology-based attendance management. These initiatives create opportunities to expand the use of digital technology in the force’s services and administrative operations.

The new training centre includes a modern driving simulator, solar power training facilities and a mobile information and communication technology (ICT) training bus. It also provides training in cottage industries, Japanese language, language laboratory activities, hospitality, culinary arts and other technical fields.

Before the ceremony, the minister visited the centre’s 6G welding workshop, driving simulator, solar power training facilities and mobile ICT training bus. He also toured other technical training facilities.

In his address, Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said Ansar-VDP’s training projects would be important partners in implementing the prime minister’s broader plan to send skilled workers abroad. He expressed hope that the recruitment licence granted to Prantik Shakti Limited would make the force’s overseas employment activities more institutionalised, dynamic and effective.

The minister added that initiatives would be taken to coordinate Ansar-VDP’s training projects with Technical Training Centres (TTCs). Such training would help demonstrate the skills of Bangladeshi workers seeking or pursuing employment abroad. He stressed the importance of strictly following legal migration procedures.

In his welcome address, Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud said overseas employment had been given the highest priority as part of efforts to improve the livelihoods of force members. He added that training capacity had been modernised under the government’s 180-day programme.

He said an agreement with a leading Japanese company was nearing finalisation. According to him, Ansar-VDP’s trained workforce was being prepared to help meet the potential demand associated with nearly 200,000 employment opportunities linked to the prime minister’s visit to Japan.

The event also featured a presentation on overseas employment loans and share-related activities of the Ansar-VDP Development Bank. Representatives of three Japanese organisations involved in memorandum-of-understanding arrangements joined virtually and shared their views on skills development for Ansar-VDP members and opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Among those attending were Gazipur-1 Member of Parliament Md. Mujibur Rahman and Ansar-VDP Additional Director General Brigadier General Mamunur Rashid, along with other officials.

By combining facial attendance technology, a digital platform and mobile ICT training, Ansar-VDP aims to expand technology-enabled services and vocational skills development. The initiative also supports the broader goal of preparing trained workers for overseas employment and strengthening international cooperation.

//DBTech/BSSR/MPS/FOE//