Forensics investigation and technologies in Bangladesh

[Jack Ryan]

Forensic Lab to open in Rajshahi

Rafiul Islam

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is going to launch a state-of-the-art forensic laboratory in Rajshahi for examining evidences, detecting crimes and identifying criminals in Rajshahi and Rangpur regions. 

The laboratory has been set up in a four-storey building at Rajshahi Police Lines and Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary is expected to inaugurate it on February 3. 

“After inauguration, evidences of cases with Rajshahi and Rangpur metropolitans and ranges police can be tested there. They do not need to come to Dhaka anymore,” said Shaikh Nazmul Alam, deputy inspector general of CID’s Forensic Division.

“Earlier, it took a long time to get laboratory reports and this delayed investigations, and sometimes evidence would be damaged,” said another CID official, adding that the lab will expedite investigations in these regions.  

Initially, a 40-member team, led by an additional superintendent of police, will be deployed at the lab.

The lab in Rajshahi is the third of its kind in the country, with the other two in Dhaka and Chattogram.

CID officials said such labs play a significant role in examining important evidences to solve criminal cases. 

But sending evidences from one division to another requires time, leading to delays. The lab in Rajshahi will reduce hassle, they said. 

“The laboratory is well-equipped with highly specialised and sophisticated equipment of international standards. It is competent to carry out any chemical examination and documentation,” Rumana Akhter, special superintendent of CID’s Forensic Division, told The Daily Star.   

The officials further said there would be a “ballistics section” to examine arms and explosives and separate sections for inspecting forgeries and counterfeit notes. 

A special crime scene unit has been added to the lab to collect evidence from the scene of crime. 

There will also be finger and foot print sections to match prints collected, a handwriting analysis and photography sections to accelerate investigations. 

Its chemical laboratories will help uncover the presence of intoxicants in dead bodies, even those dug up from graves. It can also be used to test explosives or acid to find out how they were made, CID officials said. 

https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/forensic-lab-open-rajshahi-1857739

[AntiDalal]

Good but will a few thousand taka make evidence vanish as always?

[Maisson]

5 minutes ago, AntiDalal said:

Good but will a few thousand taka make evidence vanish as always?

Sounds like you have experience in bribing officials? I mean what kind of talk is this? If you actually have tangible evidence then post it otherwise please refrain from posting such questionable comments.

[AntiDalal]

2 minutes ago, Syed Amar Khan said:

Sounds like you have experience in bribing officials? I mean what kind of talk is this? If you actually have tangible evidence then post it otherwise please refrain from posting such questionable comments.

I personally don't but I had one of my aunts lose all her land after her relatives bribed officials to help obtain fake documents. 

[Maisson]

Just now, AntiDalal said:

I personally don't but I had one of aunts lose all her land after her relatives bribed officials to help obtain fake documents. 

What does it have to do with forensics lab? Everyone knows the land department is the most corrupt unit of the state institutions. Your aunt should have known better and nephew should know not to make off topic comments or conjectures.

[Maisson]

CID’s DNA Bank resumes operation 

The DNA Laboratory of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been renamed DNA Bank containing DNA profiles of people.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated the Forensic DNA Laboratory of CID, a specialised unit of Bangladesh Police, on January 23, 2017. Now, the DNA Laboratory has started its activities after being renamed DNA Bank from Monday last, said Additional SP (Media) of the CID Faruk Hossain.

Since its inception, the laboratory has done profiling of 20,000 DNAs from more than 16,000 evidence for nearly 6,000 cases, including rape, unidentified body identification, paternity dispute/settlement, robbery, and murder, which have been saved in the servers of LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System), he said.

The process of DNA profiling started from January 2014 following a court order. Forensic DNA Laboratory of Bangladesh Police had received first evidence (alamot) on February 15 that year.

The profiles of the criminals stored in the DNA bank play an important role in identifying the person. So far, about 15,000 profiles related to various cases are stored in the bank. “These will help to easily identify the suspects later,” Additional SP Faruk Hossain said.

The DNA profiles of the criminals stored in the forensic DNA laboratory play a very important role in investigation. Analysing of all the clues related to criminal and civil cases is done at Forensic DNA labs. To date, with the help of DNA Lab, CID and Bangladesh Police have been able to solve numerous cases.

At present, forensic DNA labs receive hundreds of cases from various courts and police stations across the country and send reports within the stipulated time. By analysing the DNA profiles stored in the DNA Database, it is possible to identify a missing or unidentified person if the claimant or relative of the unknown or missing person is found.

The Forensic DNA Laboratory of Bangladesh Police project, funded by JDCF of Japan government, started in August 2011 and ended in June 2015.