Gazipur Correspondent

The Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) marked a major institutional milestone on Wednesday with the formal inauguration of the Marginal Power Training Center (PSTC) and the official acquisition of a government overseas recruiting license for its associate enterprise, Prantik Shakti Limited.

Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Choudhury, MP, attended as chief guest at the ceremony held at the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Academy in Safipur, Gazipur, where he officially handed over the recruiting license.

 The event was presided over by Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, Director General of the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP.

Upon his arrival at 10:00 am, the Minister inaugurated the newly constructed PSTC facility following a brief orientation at the administrative building. He inspected technical training infrastructure across the complex, including 6G welding workshops, driving simulators, solar energy instruction units, mobile ICT training buses, cottage industry workshops, hospitality and culinary units, and Japanese language laboratories.

During the main auditorium ceremony at 12:30 pm, the chief guest digitally launched two new platforms: Prantik Travels and a smart Facial Attendance System. Executives from three Japanese partner organizations associated with the ABI Welfare Trust joined virtually to express satisfaction over the skill standards and bilateral employment partnerships.

In welcoming address, Ansar-VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud stated that expanding overseas employment opportunities remains a strategic priority for improving the livelihoods of the force's 6.0 million members. He noted that training facilities have been modernized under the government's 180-day program, positioning trained Ansar-VDP personnel to capitalize on emerging labor demands in Japan following institutional agreements with leading Japanese firms. He added that the newly integrated digital database will connect directly with the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) to ensure transparency, while a dedicated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform will provide continuous assistance and welfare monitoring for deployed workers abroad.

Chief guest  Expatriates' Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury emphasized that the new training initiatives will serve as a crucial partner in executing the government's mandate to export skilled manpower. He underscored plans to coordinate Ansar-VDP training programs with existing Technical Training Centers (TTCs) across the country while strictly enforcing legal recruitment protocols to eradicate fraudulent intermediary networks.

The ceremony was attended by Gazipur-1 Member of Parliament Md. Mujibur Rahman, the Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ansar-VDP Additional Director General Brigadier General Mamunur Rashid, and Ansar-VDP Academy Commandant and Additional Director General Md. Saifullah Russel, alongside senior military and civil officials.