The Bangladesh government is likely to set up a national DNA database centre at the National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital so that crimes can be busted much easier.
The indexing system at the centre – the first of its kind in the country – will preserve DNA data of convicted criminals and missing persons, and crime scene evidence which can later be used to resolve the mysteries surrounding some of these cases.
The doors for setting up the world’s most state-of-the-art crime busting facility in the country were opened after the National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory had been made better in association with and assistance from the USA’s Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI provided and installed – free of cost – the expensive Combined DNA Index System (Codis) that went on to find out the actual whereabouts of many of the unidentified dead victims of the Rana Plaza Tragedy.
DNA experts have said the laboratory and its index, if established, can prove to be the most powerful tool ever in identifying criminals and solve crimes in the country’s history.
Not only would the facility save time and money for the law enforcement agencies by immensely helping in investigation, it would also be crucial in ensuring justice for the victims of crimes, they said.
The centre would be set up under the supervision of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.
However, Dr Sharif Akteruzzaman, head of the National DNA Profiling Laboratory, told the Dhaka Tribune that although they had plans to set up the database centre in the near future, its fate still depended heavily on the passage of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Act 2013 in parliament.
The cabinet on September 1, ratified the draft of the DNA act keeping provision for a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment and Tk200,000 fine for violating the law.
According to the rules, the women and children affairs ministry has already sent the approved draft of DNA act to the law ministry for betting.
Sources said, experts have already scrutinised the draft act and the law minister had signed on it.
However, there are still uncertainties surrounding the passage of the act in parliament as the future of the existing parliament is not clear yet because of the prevailing political crisis.
If parliament ceased to exist or if it ended its last session without passing the DNA act, then there are chances that it might be turned into a law by a presidential ordinance, paving way for setting up the DNA database centre.
Referring to the UK’s Forensic Science Service, Dr Sharif said a DNA database centre could save up to 90% of investigation costs for law enforcers.
He also said the centre, if established, would be requiring highly trained professionals for being effective in busting crime and helping investigation.
Moniruzzaman Uzzal