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DHAKA, April 10, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 8,843 members of the Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) have benefited from the government's agricultural loan waiver programme, bringing relief to grassroots-level members engaged in farming, Managing Director (MD) of Ansar-VDP Unnayan Bank Mir Mofazzul Hossain said.

In an interview with BSS at the bank's main office in the capital, he said the loan waiver is expected to cost the government around Taka seven crore. 

Mir Mofazzul Hossain said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman formed the 'village government' and established the VDP at the grassroots level to ensure people's security.

He said the force has approximately 61 lakh members across the country, with only a small portion in formal government jobs. 

Nearly 98 percent depend on agriculture, livestock, fisheries and other rural income-generating activities for their livelihood.

He said that the Ansar-VDP Bank was established in 1995 on the initiative of then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to support the welfare of underprivileged Ansar-VDP members.

The bank provides small and medium-sized loans, often without collateral, to help members become self-reliant, he added.

He said that around 6,50,000 members have so far received loans from the bank, with a satisfactory recovery rate and minimal defaults.

The bank currently operates through 263 branches nationwide and employs 2,863 officials and staff, although more than 800 posts remain vacant, he said, adding that initiative is underway to fill these positions.

He said a proposal has been placed to the government to expand branch coverage and increase capital support, expressing hope that it will be approved soon to further strengthen services for members.