Dhaka: Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid announced plans to modernize the forensic DNA laboratory operated under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, highlighting the need to address the growing demand for DNA testing as case numbers rise annually. “All divisional DNA screening laboratories will be developed into independent DNA profiling laboratories,” she stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser made these remarks during the first meeting of the Forensic DNA Laboratory Advisory Council of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, held at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy meeting room in the capital. She emphasized that the current forensic DNA laboratory equipment has seen a significant decline in efficiency, with most of the machinery having been in use for over 15 years.
The forensic DNA laboratory, acknowledged as the country’s first international-standard forensic DNA profiling laboratory, was established in 2006 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. It was created with the purpose of aiding in the prevention of violence against women and children and strengthening relevant support services.
To increase nationwide access to DNA testing facilities, eight additional DNA screening laboratories were subsequently set up at medical college hospitals in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Faridpur, and Mymensingh. The adviser noted that from 2006 to 2025, the national forensic DNA profiling laboratories have evaluated 375,982 DNA samples related to 11,501 cases, issuing reports in 6,333 cases.