A survey conducted by Data Management Aid (DMA) of Police Reform Programme (PRP) yesterday revealed that none of the women feels secure under the custody of general police stations, while 59 percent women feel secured under the custody of model police stations.

DMA disclosed this at a findings dissemination session of Public Attitude Follow-up Survey held at a city hotel where it also mentioned that overall 70 percent women have positive experiences in model police stations, while only 14 percent in normal police stations.

The government is implementing the PRP since 2005 in partnership with UNDP, DFID and EC. At present, there are 11 model police stations, while six others are in the pipeline to be set up.

DMA conducted the survey in 2008 to document the pre-intervention situation of the public perception towards the police service.

Speaking as the guest of honour, former adviser SM Shahjahan, who is also a former IGP, said, “Poor people always want justice from police, while the rich and powerful want favour. Sometimes it is true that police go against the poor and in favour of the powerful people.”

Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder said the government is considering the police reform proposal keenly and it would be passed on time.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said police are component of the government and the force depends on it attitude.

At the end of the seminar, he told journalists that police want an atmosphere to conduct investigations as well as enquiries independently and to be free from any interference.

Additional IGP (admin) NBK Tripura, who is the national project director of PRP, said police reform in Bangladesh is now very much in the public eye and a focus for the media, as every citizen of the country started to enjoy the benefits of the programme.

The activities carried out by PRP include Evidence Act amendment, submission of the Evidence Ordinance 2007, development in Strategic Plan (2008-10) for Bangladesh Police, review of Bangladesh Police Crime Prevention Strategy (CPS), development of Community Policing Strategy, adaptation of Gender Guidelines and introduction of Police Open Day, he added.

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