Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Feb 9, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S. Murshid today said the forensic DNA laboratory operated under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will be modernized to meet the growing demand for DNA testing, as the number of cases is increasing every year.

"All divisional DNA screening laboratories will be developed into independent DNA profiling laboratories," she said.

The adviser made the remarks while addressing the first meeting of the Forensic DNA Laboratory Advisory Council of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as the chief guest at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy meeting room in the capital.

She said the efficiency of the existing forensic DNA laboratory equipment has significantly declined as most of the machinery is more than 15 years old.

The forensic DNA laboratory, recognized 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. The facility was set up to help prevent violence against women and children and to strengthen related support services.

To expand access to DNA testing facilities nationwide, eight additional DNA screening laboratories were later established at medical college hospitals in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Faridpur, and Mymensingh, the adviser said.

She added that from 2006 to 2025, the national forensic DNA profiling laboratories evaluated 375,982 DNA samples related to 11,501 cases and issued reports in 6,333 cases.