Bangladesh, Oct. 16 -- A total of 212,118 members of the Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party have been deployed nationwide to ensure security during Durga Puja, with additional personnel assigned to high-risk venues and 104 striking teams kept ready to respond to emergencies.

Eight members will be deployed at each high-risk puja mandap, while six will be assigned to other venues, Ansar Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sajjad Mahmud said at a press conference at the force's headquarters on Thursday.

The force has received information on 33,165 puja mandaps across the country, of which 6,914 have been identified as important and requiring special security attention, he said.

The 104 striking teams will coordinate secu...