Staff Correspondent

Some 10,000 members of Ansar-VDP have been deployed in the coastal districts to protect lives and property from the ravages of Cyclone Rimal, which has started hitting the coast. Distress signal number 10 has also been issued at various coastal locations.

Ansar and Village Defense Forces have deployed them in 12 coastal districts for four days to deal with the security risk to the local public before and after the cyclone. At the same time, the concerned Coastal Range Commanders, District Commandants and Ansar Battalion Commanders have been ordered to be ready to deal with any situation.

Instructions to undertake these activities were issued through a fax message from the Army Headquarters on Saturday (May 25). On Sunday (May 26) evening, Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Force Assistant Director (VDP Training) and Public Relations Officer (Ext. Duties) Md. Rubel Hossain confirmed this.

He said, to deal with the damage caused by Cyclone Rimal, all the officers and employees have been ordered to be present at the station by canceling their leave. Ops Control Room has been opened at HQ for round the clock communication for this purpose.

In view of this, the concerned range commanders and district commandants are coordinating with the local administration and are working to take the affected people to safe shelters by organizing and miking campaigns to take them to safe shelters.

Ansar-VDP members are also assisting the locals in evacuating domestic animals and other important property to safe places. A control room has been set up in the office of the concerned range, battalion and district commandant.

Rubel Hossain also said that union and ward party leaders, upazila and union Ansar commanders and assistant Ansar commanders have been involved in dealing with the cyclone.

Ansar battalion members, Ansar and VDP members/members have been kept ready for deployment in cyclone affected areas.