***The detection lab to identify criminals was originally scheduled to start functioning from January last year at the DMC. The project with the financial and technical support of the Danish government, got delayed due to bureaucratic difficulties and was expected to open in November 2004. But again, the date was deferred.***

The country's first ever DNA laboratory is still waiting to start functioning after its opening date was twice rescheduled.

Sources said a conflict of interest between the government and the forensic department of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) is delaying the setting up of the lab.

Initially the government decided to employ three assistant professors from the forensic department of DMC as scientific officers of three departments -Research, Analyzing and Dispatch where three microbiologists would assist them.

But then the DMC authorities were informed that they only microbiologists would be employed for the lab.

"The authorities wanted to assign us only to sign the reports and to give witness in court. If we do not have involvement with the whole testing process how will we sign the reports and on what basis will we face the court," asked Prof. Akteruzzaman, head of the forensic department of the DMC.

"So we protested the decision and later sacrificed the post of scientific officer," he added.

The lab is being set up under a project funded by the Danish

government with the aim to resist violence against women across the country.

After the Danish government threatened that they would withdraw the project and shift it to Vietnam, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs took initiative to settle the problem with the DMC.

"The problem is solved now. We have offered them to take charge as supervisors of the three departments and we hope the lab would be opened for service within three months," said a high official of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

The official also informed that the employees of the forensic

department of DMC would be trained before taking charge.

The detection lab to identify criminals was originally scheduled to start functioning from January last year at the DMC. The project with the financial and technical support of the Danish government, got delayed due to bureaucratic difficulties and was expected to open in November 2004. But again, the date was deferred.

Recently three rooms that were selected for setting up the lab were opened after nine months and officials found most of the furniture ruined by the termites.

"After cleaning up the rooms, we will start installing the equip-

ment," said an official of the ministry of women affairs.

Medical equipment worth around one million dollars is already in Dhaka and has remained stored at the Danish embassy for a year.

Forensic experts of the country believe that DNA testing facility will help the investigators make thorough identification of criminals by testing their blood, saliva, semen, hair or sweat collected from the victim or the crime scene.

They also said that to get full benefit of the DNA lab, it is necessary to maintain profiles of criminals which has not been done properly in the past.