DNA tests have confirmed identities of 157 out of 322 Rana Plaza victims with samples collected from their family members matching the deceased nearly six months after the most tragic incident that killed more than 1100 workers, official sources said Sunday.
However, the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) tests could not confirm the identities of the remaining 165 victims as samples collected from the dead bodies did not match, they added.
An official of the National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory (NFDPL) of the Dhaka Medical College handed over the test report to the ministry of labour and employment Sunday.
""We have submitted the DNA test report identifying 157 Rana Plaza victims to the concerned authority Sunday," Laboratory Head Dr Sharif Akteruzzaman told the FE.
Out of 322 bodies 165 bodies remained unidentified because the samples taken from the victims' relatives and family members did not match, he added.
"We will re-analyse those 165 profiling to find out whether there is any fault in collecting samples or other related matters," he said adding after re-examining they might identify some more victims.
Replying to a question, he said they will prepare a final report after it.
They would not collect further samples, if the result again is found negative, he added.
When contacted, a senior labour ministry official said they will hand over the report on 157 identified victims to the Prime Minister's Office for necessary action.
The PMO will take necessary action to inform the relatives of the identified victims and make payment of their wages, other benefits and compensation, he added.
Of the Rana Plaza collapse victims, 291 unidentified bodies out of 318 were buried at Jurain graveyard and samples of hair, teeth and nails were collected for the DNA testing by the NFDPL.
The remaining 27 bodies were handed over to the relatives as per their claim while 10 bodies were again handed over to the concerned authority. Samples of those 10 bodies have also been collected while samples of the rest four bodies buried outside Dhaka were also collected,
About 548 samples of 540 family members and relatives of the dead bodies were collected. The NFDPL sources said the result of the remaining 165 profiling might take further three weeks.
Families of the missing workers are yet to get any financial support from any quarter their wages and other benefits.
