Recently, several images have circulated on the internet claiming that Bangladeshi men and women near the Bangladesh-India border are receiving military training to resist India. It has also been claimed that no Hindus were included in this training.
View such images propagated on X here (Archive), here (Archive), and here (Archive).
Additionally, Indian media outlet Aaj Tak Bangla propagated a report claiming the same incident as “jihadi training.” View the report here (Archive).
Fact-Check
Rumor Scanner’s investigation confirms that the claim of Bangladeshi men and women near the border undergoing military training to resist India is false. In reality, the images being circulated with these claims originate from the Town Defense Party (TDP) basic training conducted at the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party headquarters in Dhaka.
A reverse image search traced the images back to a report aired on January 19 by Jamuna Television’s YouTube channel.
Upon reviewing the report, it was evident that the images used in the misleading claims were taken directly from the report’s video frames. This indicates that the images were likely screenshots from the report. The report explicitly identifies the footage as part of the basic training conducted by the ‘Town Defense Party (TDP)’ under the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP). The training commenced on the same day the report was aired. The report states that 250 young men and women from Dhaka participated in the training. The report also highlights that weapon handling training was introduced for the first time.
Subsequently, keyword searches led to another report published on January 21 by the daily Ajker Patrika (Report) titled “Inauguration of TDP Basic Training Course at Ansar Headquarters.”
The report states that under the theme ‘Let’s Change the Country, Let’s Change the World,’ the Youth Festival 2025 is being celebrated nationwide. In alignment with this, the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party headquarters initiated the basic training program for the Dhaka Metropolitan Town Defense Party (TDP). The main aim of this training is to provide an integrated understanding of human security, community alert mechanisms, voluntary service, and disaster management to unify the youth under a single umbrella. A total of 256 participants from Khilgaon, Mirpur, Bhatara, and Lalbagh police stations in Dhaka took part in the training.
Further keyword searches revealed a Facebook post from the official Bangladesh Ansar and VDP page on January 19, featuring several images of the training and inauguration.
Another post, published on January 24 (Post), clarifies the context.
It refutes the claim made by Indian media outlet Aaj Tak Bangla (Report) that the training was “jihadi training.” The post clarifies that the Ansar and Village Defense Party has been conducting basic training programs for the Village Defense Party (VDP) and Town Defense Party (TDP) since its inception, aiming to equip youth with essential skills. As part of this initiative, the ten-day training commenced on January 19, 2025, across all upazilas in the country.
According to the official website of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP (Website), the Village Defense Party (VDP) was formed in 1976, and the Town Defense Party (TDP) was established in 1980. These two organizations were later merged with the Ansar force to become an integrated entity in national security. Training programs are regularly organized to enhance the skills and effectiveness of the members.
Open-source research also found two Facebook posts on TDP training in 2023 and 2024. View the posts here and here.
Additionally, no credible sources or media reports confirm that any training programs were initiated in the border regions of Bangladesh to oppose India.
Moreover, no credible sources have reported any restrictions on the participation of Hindus in these training programs.
Conclusion
The claim that Bangladeshi men and women are receiving military training near the border to resist India
is entirely false.
Sources
- Jamuna Television YouTube Channel: Ansar Force’s TDP Basic Training Begins
- Ajker Patrika Website: Inauguration of TDP Basic Training Course at Ansar Headquarters
- Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Facebook Page – Post
- Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Facebook Page – Post
- Aaj Tak Bangla YouTube Channel: “Jihadi Training Freely Operates in Yunus’s Bangladesh, What’s
the Real Intention?“ - Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Official Website
- Rumor Scanner Analysis.
