DNA lab protests RAB claim

The elite force had said the local lab can't handle the Sagar-Runi case samples that they sent to the US

Dhaka, Sep 3 (bdnews24.com) – The national DNA laboratory has contested the Rapid Action Battalion's (RAB) claim that it cannot test the DNA samples that they sent to the US over journalist couple Sagar Sarowar-Meherun Runi's killing.

"They can send samples anywhere, but they can't say that we cannot do it," Prof Sharif Akhteruzzaman, National Technical Adviser of National DNA Profiling Laboratory Programme, said on Monday at a press briefing.

He said all knowledgeable know about the presence of this laboratory in Bangladesh, and that's why they could test 6,481 samples of 1,832 cases so far since its inception in 2006.

The government set up the laboratory in the Dhaka Medical College with the support of Denmark to help the judiciary, law-enforcing agencies and the foreign missions with DNA profiling.

He said they had called the press briefing following newspaper reports quoting the elite force that "the DNA lab cannot test such type of samples".

"Such comments send wrong signals to the general people about this laboratory."

"If law-enforcing agencies do not know about it, then how we could do all those tests," he asked.

He said of those cases, 682 were on parenting dispute, 949 rape victims, 128 murder cases, 23 immigration cases, 7 sibling cases and 29 over kidney transplant issue.

Akhteruzzaman said so far they had tested DNA samples from blood, buccal cells, vaginal swabs, semen stains, blood stains, tissues, bones, teeth, hair, soil, weapons, hair brush, condoms, shoes, plastic bags, paper bags, contraceptive products, bed sheets and plastic bottles.

"We can do a complete DNA profiling of a completely decomposed body."

He gave instances of how they helped to get judgment by DNA profiling.

"We have helped the judiciary identify the seven children of a DIG who were found not siblings.

"We helped identifying a missing Philippine ship crew."

He said after the BDR mutiny they helped in identification of four mutilated bodies.

"Even RAB maintained constant connection with us when we were identifying the body of Col Golzar Uddin Ahmed who was killed in the mutiny."

Akhteruzzaman, however, said technologies for DNA profiling are same across the world. "We use similar technology the US uses."

RAB Spokesperson Commander M Sohail told bdnews24.com on Aug 24 that the US laboratory where they sent samples had confirmed the presence of people other than Sagar and Runi at the time of incident.

Sohail on Monday told bdnews24.com that they had followed High Court's directives.

He, however, said there were differences in quality of testing between Bangladesh's DNA lab and foreign labs.

"Those (foreign labs) are better," he said.

Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar and ATN Bangla Senior Reporter Runi were killed in their own flat at Rajabazar on Feb 11.

The High Court on Apr 18 vented its frustration over the Detective Branch of police's failure in identifying the killer and ordered transfer of the case to RAB.

No arrests have been made to date.

bdnews24.com/nih/nir/1728h