Staff Correspondent

Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) and Chairman of Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank, inaugurated the bank's Dhaka Divisional Office in Savar on Thursday.

During the same ceremony, the Bhola branch of the bank was also inaugurated virtually via videoconference.

Speaking as the chief guest, Major General Sazzad Mahmud highlighted the crucial role played by the bank in driving the socioeconomic development and welfare of nearly 60 lakh members directly affiliated with the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, while emphasizing its expanding contribution to the national economy.

He recalled that comprehensive reform efforts were initiated nearly two years ago following the July mass uprising to address institutional limitations and mismanagements, during a period when the bank was incurring losses amounting to Tk 40 crore. Through continuous restructuring, the bank is now being transformed into a modern, efficient, transparent, and people-friendly financial institution.

"Efforts are underway to position the bank as an effective and leading institution in the country's banking sector through digitalization, recruitment of skilled manpower, capacity building for staff, and implementation of modern management systems," the DG said.

He further noted that the bank will act as a key financial partner in the 'Sanjibani' project—an initiative aimed at promoting overseas employment for force members, deploying renewable energy solutions such as solar systems, and fostering local self-employment. The project will operate under a tripartite model, coordinating government development vision, member skills, and bank financing.

Addressing governance and operational reforms, the chairman stated that eligibility guidelines for bank services have been made explicit to eliminate illegal or unauthorized access to bank facilities, significantly reducing irregularities and boosting transparency.

To demonstrate the bank's direct impact on member welfare, loan checks of Tk 2 lakh each were handed over to three embodied Ansar members during the event to support their self-employment initiatives.

The inauguration was attended by Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank Managing Director Mir Mofazzal Hossain, along with senior officials from the Bangladesh Ansar and VDP and representatives from related institutions.