Mary Baidya

Bangladesh is going to set up a DNA tests laboratory soon. It is especially good news because the proposed laboratory will be used to find those who resort to violence against women. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, a chemical substance that carries genetic information, which determines the form and function of all living things.
As Dr Mizanur Rahman, an Associate Professor at the Forensic Medicine Department of Dhaka Medical College puts it: "DNA is the basic genetic building block of all living things and governs the inheritance of eye and hair colour, bone density … each cell contains a complete sample of DNA. DNA of one person will not match with that of another person."
The planned DNA laboratory in Bangladesh will be the country's first such facility to detect criminals. Says Dr. Rahman, ``The laboratory will first deal with cases related to violence against women. It will gradually expand to deal with other crimes."
Says Dr Zahedul Karim; the DNA laboratory will be a milestone in pursuing criminals. It will be able to analyse samples such as blood, semen, nails, hair, tooth and even nail bites leading investigators to any criminal. A rapist has no way but to leave semen on the dress of his victim. Tests can lead to the rapist through his semen tests even two years after the crime has been committed. Samples or evidences relating to the criminal can be stored in the laboratory for many years. Thus a criminal can be traced even 10 years after the crime has been committed.
According to Karim, lack of strong evidences creates a big problem in punishing rapists or attackers of women. "The DNA test is the answer," he says. The existing facilities do not provide for preserving the evidences such as semen and blood. If the DNA tests are done the trial will need no witness. The DNA samples will tell the real story, he says. It will also help those who are innocents, but held on suspicion.
The DNA laboratory will be set up at a cost of nearly Tk. 60 million, most of the amount coming as aid from Denmark. The lab will have three departments: one will collect the samples, the second will store them and the third will analyse those. The DNA tests will be valid evidences in court, according to a decision by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.

NewsNetwork.