DNA testing has begun to identify five bodies recovered after an explosion at the designated parking area of the F&F factory of Preeti Group in Ashulia, Dhaka, as the remains were too badly burned for conventional identification.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will compare DNA samples from the bodies with samples collected from nine members of five families who reported relatives missing after the incident.
Harun-or-Rashid, inspector (unarmed) of Ashulia police station and the investigation officer in the case filed over the incident, confirmed the matter.
He said: “The 5 bodies were burned, so it was not possible to identify them through conventional methods. It is not possible to identify the bodies without a DNA test.”
He added: “Therefore, DNA samples from the 5 bodies and 9 members of the 5 families who reported their relatives missing have been sent to the CID’s forensic department. It cannot be said how long it will take to receive the DNA test results. However, we will request the CID’s forensic department to provide the report as soon as possible.”
Since the explosion, Md Saiful Kazi, a resident of North Manda in Mugda, has been unable to find his 18-year-old son, Imtiaz Kazi.
Saiful Kazi said his son had travelled to Ashulia from Bhola in a covered van carrying gas cylinders and worked as an assistant to the driver. The van was driven by his sister-in-law’s son, Nur Islam, who died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being injured in the Preeti Group explosion.
Saiful Kazi said: “After police suspected that my son’s body could be among the 5 bodies, I provided my DNA sample to the CID yesterday with the assistance of Ashulia police station to identify the bodies. My demand is that the DNA report be provided quickly.”
The CID said the test could take comparatively longer because the samples are hard tissue.
Md Chhufi Ullah, special police superintendent (SSP) of the CID’s Media Wing, said: “We have received the samples. It will take about a month to get the DNA test report. The samples we received are hard tissue. If they were soft tissue, it would take less time.”