United News of Bangladesh

The bodies of 16 people who died in a devastating fire at a chemical warehouse and garment factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday will be handed over to their families soon after proper identification, officials said on Wednesday. Brig Gen Md Asaduzzaman, director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said the unidentified bodies will later be transferred to Anjuman Mofidul Islam. He said the victims include nine men and seven women, all of whom were brought to the hospital following the fire. “Many of the bodies were severely burnt, making identification extremely difficult. So far, 10 relatives have claimed the bodies of their family members,” he added. Mirpur Factory Fire: Bodies of 16 people taken to DMCH Emphasising the importance of proper identification, he said the hospital, in coordination with the district administration and police, will not hand over any dead body without verification. “We have decided to collect DNA samples from all victims. The bodies will then be released to those who have claimed them. Unclaimed bodies will be kept for a few days before being handed over to Anjuman Mofidul Islam,” Asaduzzaman said. The hospital director also noted that police are assisting in expediting the process. “We will try to ensure that claimed bodies are delivered to families with administrative support as soon as possible,” he added. The fire broke out around 11:30am at the four-storey ‘Anwar Fashion’ garment factory and an adjacent tin-shed chemical warehouse. Locals said the blaze started on the factory’s ground floor and quickly spread to the chemical warehouse, triggering loud explosions that engulfed all four floors. DNA tests may need to identify Shialbari 16 fire victims: Fire Service Workers tried to escape, but many were trapped. The Fire Service said the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic, and hydrogen peroxide. By 7:15pm on Tuesday, rescue teams had recovered the charred bodies of 16 victims from the scene.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday identified five victims, who were killed in the Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College, through DNA test. The victims were Okia Ferdous, daughter of Md Faruk Hossain and Salma Akter couple, Lamia Akter Sonia, daughter of Md Babul and Majeda couple, Afsana Akter Priya, daughter of Abbas Uddin and Minu Akter couple, Raisa Moni, daughter of Sahabul Sheikh and Mariam Umme Afia, daughter of Abdul Kadir and Umme Tamima couple. A team of CID collected samples for 11 people including the unidentified bodies kept in the mortuary for DNA test on July 27 and after analyzing these, five victims were identified, said a press release of CID. Govt publishes identities of Dhaka aircraft crash victims The death toll from the tragic military aircraft crash has risen to 31 with two deaths at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Thursday. The government on Wednesday morning published the identities of the victims who were killed and injured in the BAF aircraft crash.

The identities of six people, who died in the terrible Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crash into Milestone School and College in Uttara on Monday, are yet to be determined, said authorities. The bodies are currently kept at the morgue of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, according to a media release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Under the supervision of Health Ministry experts, DNA samples have already been collected from the bodies for profiling. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will conduct DNA profiling at its laboratory soon to help identify the deceased. Officials have requested the families who are still searching for their missing loved ones and whose names do not appear in the published lists of injured or deceased to visit the CID office in Malibagh and provide DNA samples for matching, the media release added. Death toll from Dhaka aircraft crash rises to 31: ISPR It said only one family of a missing person has so far contacted the authorities and submitted a DNA sample. The identification process will be expedited once more families come forward and matches can be confirmed in the shortest possible time, with authorities urging all concerned to cooperate in this identification process. A total of 32 people have so far officially declared dead in the fighter jet crash and many others have been undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the capital.  

Jhenaidah Member of Parliament Anwarul Azim Anar's family members will go to India shortly to provide DNA samples in connection with his murder. If Indian CID calls on them to go to India, it will be assumed that they (CID) would call them for a DNA test. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner and chief of Detective Branch (DB) Mohammad Harunur Rashid revealed this while talking to reporters at DB office on Saturday. He said MP's family members will go to India very soon for DNA test. Read more: Anar Murder: Nepal police arrested suspects Siam, Jihad, says DB chief "We have already talked to Kolkata CID. Apart from this, the Indian investigating officers have also taken the names and mobile numbers of the family members. They will call soon. If they call, assume they will call them for a DNA test," the DB chief said. Replying to another question, Harun said they have detained a local Awami League leader of Jhenaidah in connection with the killing of MP Anar. "He is being interrogated. Many important matters are being asked. However, he has not yet been officially shown as arrested. If any involvement is found during the interrogation, he will be shown as arrested," Harun said. Read more: DB chief leading team in Nepal to investigate MP Anar murder

Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Thursday recommended the government for arrangement of adequate number of DNA labs and dope test labs for sake of disposal of rape and drugs cases.

Returning to the state where she was born, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren met privately with Native American tribal leaders Sunday and offered no new apology for the DNA test she took to counter President Donald Trump's taunts about her claim to American Indian heritage, according to a meeting participant.