RANGAMATI, Oct 12 (BSS): Director General of Ansar and Village Defense Party, Major General Rafiqul Islam said that modern weapons would be provided to the members of the Ansars by 2012 in order to maintain law and order and combat terrorism.

The training of the members of Ansars would be provided with Chinese rifles instead of 303 rifles, the DG told local journalists Sunday at Rangamati following his visit to the district office of Ansar and VDP.

He said steps are being taken to solve the accommodation problem of the members of Battalion Ansar and regularisation of services of Ansars is under the active consideration of the present government.

Major General Rafiqul Islam also said that once the process of regularisation of services of the Ansars is completed they would get facilities including ration.

District adjutant of Ansar Habunur Rahman Hussainy detailed the DG with the activities of Ansars in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Assistant director Mohammad Saifur Rahman and range commander of Ansar and VDP accompanied the DG during his visit.

Earlier, the DG visited the 4th battalion of Ansar and VDP at Ghagra under Kaukhali upazila of the district where he released fish fries at the adjacent water body after holding a darbar there.

In the evening, he visited Shilchhari and Boraichhari battalions under Kaptai upazila of the district.