The police administration should be loyal to the state instead of serving every successive government, said the speakers at a seminar yesterday.

They said more facilitates should be provided to police forces to make them more efficient.

The seminar on 'Role of state and people in building up efficient police administration' was organised by Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR) at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

"We do not want police for the government, rather we want police for the state," said ASM Shajahan, former advisor to the caretaker government.

Speaking as founder secretary general of BSEHR, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda urged the organisation to publish reports on human rights violation in the developed countries blaming them for pointing fingers only to the underdeveloped ones.

"As most of the reports are prepared by the developed nations, they overlook violation of human rights in their countries and always point fingers to the underdeveloped ones like Bangladesh," he added.

Huda also suggested the publication of the reports on every December 10, the Human Rights Day.

In a keynote paper Advocate Elina Khan, executive director of BSEHR, said no governments in last 34 years took any major initiatives to develop the police forces.

Comparing the performance of Singapore police with that of Bangladesh, she said the government should start community policing and form a separate permanent 'Police Commission' with a former judge as one of its member.

Advocate Elina also called for initiating a monitoring system, which will ensure the accountability of police administration to the people.

She urged people to change their mentality about police and take initiatives to minimise gaps between them at community level.

The speakers also laid emphasis on changing the age-old Police Act, 1861 terming it outdated and 'unfriendly' to people.

BSEHR Secretary General Sigma Huda, Editor-in-Chief of Dainik Manabzamin Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Advisory Editor of Dainik Amar Desh Ataus Samad, BSEHR National Committee member Jafrullah Chowdhury, and Kothika Rahman of Manusher Jonno also spoke on the occasion.

BSEHR National Committee member Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelly presided over the seminar.