Interim cabinet gives final nod to DNA law
The interim Cabinet at its maiden meeting yesterday gave the final approval to the draft DNA Act-2013 which would help identify and bring to justice criminals and find the identities of unidentified bodies.
The act states how to accurately carry out DNA tests, to preserve and protect databases, bring under a framework the quality of laboratories and administrative system and to set up a directorate to properly carry out DNA activities.
Having a maximum seven years jail penalty and Tk 3 lakh fine, the act allows law enforcers to take to court persons who refuse to provide DNA samples.
The act will help identify blood relations, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told journalists after the meeting in Bangladesh Secretariat chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A person will be jailed for two to five years for running unauthorised DNA laboratories or organisations and face three years' imprisonment and a fine of Tk 50,000 for unauthorised collection or disclosure of DNA data, says the act.
A person trying to damage or corrupt DNA reports will be jailed for three to seven years or have to pay Tk 3 lakh in fine or both.
Unauthorised access to “National DNA Database”, to be set up under the law, will result in two years' imprisonment and imposition of Tk 30,000 in fine or both, it states.
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