Home Minister Abdul Matin Chowdhury yesterday introduced before the Jatfya Sangsad. the Battalion Ansars Bill. 1995. seeking provision for the constitution ot battalion ansars-Its responsibilities, duties and work procedures, reports BSS.

In his statement, the Home Minister' said that the enactment of the bill and reorgani-. satlon of the battalion. ansars under the new law would greatly help in maintaining law and order in the country.

It would also be possible to extend more’ 'cooperation to the defence force and the i >-lice forces in preventing a;...-economic activities, he added.

The Home Minister said at present there are 36 ansar battalions in the country under the existing ansars organisation. In addition to general members of the force, the total number of battalion ansars is alx>ut 10.555. he added. *

These battalion ansars have been performing important duties in different parts of the country, he said, adding of them. 19 battalion ansars have been engaged in national defence duties in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, along with the

armed forces.

But the existing Ansar Act of 1948 and ansar rules are Inadequate and have become impractical in dealing with the responsibilities vested upon the battalion ansars. Besides, the necessity of keeping provision for punitive steps for the offences by the . members of the force are being felt, he said.

The Home Minister, said that, the ansar organisation was formed in 1948 through an ordinance for facing various problems in the administration. social and.law and order

He pointed out that the members of the force had played an appreciative role in the national defence as an auxiliary force of the armed forces In 1965. during the Indo-Pak War. In 1971. during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh, the members of the ansar force played a remarkable role in waging a strong resistance against Pakistani occupation forces.

The Home Minister also Introduced the Ansar Force BUI. 1995. before the Jatlya Sangsad Tuesday.