Published in Bangladesh Gazette Extraordinary
Dated 16th February, 1995

Act No.5 of 1995

An Act made to constitute the Village Defence Unit for the purpose of developing the economic and social condition of the country

Whereas it is expedient to constitute the Village Defence Unit for the purpose of developing the economic and social condition of the country;
Now, therefore, it is enacted as follows:-

1. Short title.- This Act may be called the Village Defence Unit Act, 1995.

2. Definitions.- Unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, in this Act-

a) "Ansars Force" means the Ansars Force constituted under the Ansars Force Act, 1995 (Act No.3 of 1995);
b) "village" shall also include wards;
c) "Director General" means the Director General of the Ansars Force;
d) "regulation" means any regulation made under this Act;
e) "rule" means any rule made under this Act;
f) "ward" means ward as defined in section 2 of the Pourashava Ordinance 1977 (XXVII of 1977).
3. Constitution of the Village Defence Unit. The Village Defence Unit shall be constituted in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

4. Supervision and management.- The Village Defence Unit shall be under the permanent supervision of the Government and shall be managed by the Director General of the Village Defence Unit in accordance with this Act, the rules and regulations and, subject to their not being inconsistent with such Act, rules and regulations, in accordance with the orders and direction the Government may pass from time to time.

5. Officers and employees, etc. .- All officers and employees deemed to be officers and employees of the Ansars Force shall also be deemed to be officers and employees of the Village Defence Unit.

6. Enlistment of the members of the Village Defence Unit.- The members of the Village Defence Unit shall be enlisted and enrolled as volunteers in such manner as may be prescribed and their allowance, apparel, training and discipline shall be determined by regulations.

7. Ranks of the Village Defence Unit.- The Village Defence Unit shall have all or any of the following ranks, namely:-

a) Union Commander and Union Woman Commander;
b) Union Assistant Commander and Union Woman Assistant Commander;
c) Ward Commander and Ward Woman Commander;
d) Ward Assistant Commander and Ward Woman Assistant Commander;
e) Village Commander and Village Woman Commander;
(2) The Director General shall constitute one or more Village Defence Platoons for every town, ward, union and village and the constitution, management and control of such platoons shall be determined by regulations.
(3) The Director General may, if necessary, enroll members of the Village Defence Unit for a fixed period.

8. Functions of the Village Defence Unit, etc. .- (1) The main functions of the Village Defence Unit shall be:-

a) to take part in public welfare measures for the purpose of improving the economic and social situation of the country;
b) to render assistance in legal disciplinary and public security measures;
c) to perform any functions which, from time to time, the Government may prescribe.
(2) Subject to the policies made by the government and the directions issued and conditions imposed by it from time to time, the members of the Village Defence Units may carry and use arms and ammunition.

9. Obligation to comply with orders.- The members of the Village Defence Unit shall be bound to comply with any legal order enforced on them by any appropriate authority.

10. Power to make rules.- The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

11. Power to make regulations.- The Director General may, on prior consent from the Government and by notification in the official Gazette, may make such regulations as are not inconsistent with this Act or any rule for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

12. Repeal and savings. (1) All orders of the Government regarding the constitution of the Village Defence Unit, heretoafter referred to as the said orders, are herewith cancelled.
(2) All the properties, whether movable or immovable, funds, obligations and documents of the Village Defence Unit constituted by the said orders shall be properties, funds, obligations and documents of the Village Defence Unit constituted under this Act.
(3) All members of the Village Defence Unit enlisted under the said orders immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be members of the Village Defence Unit enlisted under this Act.
(4) All orders or directions passed by the Director General in respect of the Village Defence Unit shall, subject to their being not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, remain in force until being repealed or amended.