Bangladesh police

Bangladesh police is set to install the first ever DNA labin next two years to expedite criminal investigations ensuring scientific andauthentic investigations, officials said here on Friday.

"The lab will help us to correctly identify realcriminals through DNA examination of the physical evidences like saliva, blood,hair and sperm of the culprits, expedite investigation process as well as makeinvestigation scientific and authentic," Mohammad Sarwar, project directorof the lab, told BSS.

He said construction works on the Deoxyribonucleic Acid(DNA) laboratory for police with state of the art technology would start inNovember next.

Sarwar said the lab would be of crucial help particularly routinelyidentifying bodies without identity.

The government in June last year approved DevelopmentProject Proforma (DPP) for setting up the DNA lab at a cost of Taka 21 crore,while Japanese Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF) is to provide 80 percent of the amount.

Sarwar said the lab would be installed on the second floorof 14- storey under construction building of Criminal Investigation Department(CID) and Special Branch (SB) of police at Malibagh in the capital.

Construction of the building is expected to be completed byDecember 2013, he added.

Bangladesh Police had earlier wanted Dhaka MetropolitanPolice to run the laboratory but it decided to entrust CID with the task.

Officials familiar with the process said the initiative wastaken to install the facility under police management as an existing DNAlaboratory at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) "failed" to meetthe demand of police.

"The lab at DMCH takes a long time to give reports . .. it lacks experts to examine evidence properly for lack of knowledge oncriminal evidence," a CID official said.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs set up the

National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory (NFDPL) at DMCHunder the auspices of Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence against Woman(MSP-VAW) in 2006 with Danish assistance.

Besides, five divisional DNA screening laboratories havebeen established in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Chittagong MedicalCollege Hospital, MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet, Sher-e-BanglaMedical College Hospital in Barisal and Khulna Medical College Hospital.