Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain chaired the meeting of the Advisory Council of the National Forensic DNA Laboratory today at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka. Photo: PID

DHAKA, April 12, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain has said an international-standard DNA laboratory will be established in the capital to strengthen forensic capabilities amid rising demand for DNA testing.

He also said DNA screening laboratories in all divisional cities will be gradually upgraded into fully functional DNA profiling laboratories.

The minister made the remarks while chairing a meeting of the Forensic DNA Laboratory Advisory Council at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon.

He noted that existing forensic DNA laboratory equipment, which is over 15 years old, has significantly reduced efficiency, affecting the accuracy and quality of sample analysis. 

He stressed the need for modern equipment to ensure precise and reliable results.

Emphasizing improved coordination, he called for an integrated national database under the DNA Laboratory Management Directorate to store and manage all forensic DNA data in a unified system.

The minister further said that the country's first national forensic DNA profiling laboratory was established in 2006 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, followed by the establishment of DNA screening laboratories in eight medical colleges across the country.

The meeting also discussed manpower requirements, database development, legal reforms and fixation of service fees for DNA testing.