DNA profiles finished for 41,555 women, children Rape victims

To ensure swift and fair justice for women and children who have been victims of abuse, a total of 41,555 DNA profiles have so far been completed at the National Forensic DNA Profiling Laboratory on the Dhaka Medical College campus and seven divisional DNA screening laboratories.

This information was provided by Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Jafar Md. Zahid Hossain on Monday in response to a written question on the seventh day of the second (budget) session of the 13th National Parliament.

Reserved seat Member of Parliament Selima Rahman asked whether any strong measures would be taken to prevent the long-running problem of child rape and abuse in the country.

In response, the Minister said that the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2026 was passed during the first session of parliament. Offences of child rape and abuse will be prosecuted under this Act. Furthermore, DNA testing must be carried out under the provisions of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Act 2014, regardless of whether the accused or the victim consents. Through a 2025 amendment, the investigation and trial process in rape cases has been further expedited, with provisions added for completing trials within a fixed period after charges are framed.

The Minister said that assistance has been provided in formulating various laws, rules, policies, and action plans for the protection of women and children, the most notable being the National Women’s Policy 2011, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2026, the DNA Act 2014 and Rules 2017, the Child Marriage Restraint Rules 2018, and the National Action Plan to Prevent Child Marriage (2018-2030).

The Minister announced that 37 One-Stop Crisis Centres (OCCs) will be established in phases at government medical college hospitals to provide services to abused women and children. Currently, 14 OCCs are providing medical, legal, police, psychosocial counselling, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and income-generating training services, with 82,678 people currently being served.

The Minister further stated that 95 One-Stop Crisis Centres established in phases at district sadar hospitals and upazila health complexes have provided services to 1,70,523 abused women and children.

Through the National Helpline Centre-109 (toll-free), which provides immediate 24-hour services for the prevention of violence against women and children, a total of 88,46,940 abused women and children have so far been provided with various types of services.
Regarding psychosocial support for abused women and children, the Minister said services are being provided through a National Trauma Counselling Centre in Dhaka and 37 Regional Trauma Counselling Centres. To date, a total of 38,061 women and children have received psychosocial counselling from the National and 8 Regional Trauma Counselling Centres. Survivors, their families, and all those concerned are provided with information, legal advice, police assistance, psychosocial counselling, rescue services, child marriage prevention, and other necessary services.
The Minister also said that committees have been formed at the national, district, upazila, and union levels to prevent child marriage, and a total of 18,824 child marriages have been stopped through the helpline. In order to ensure equal opportunities and rights for all regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, or place of birth, the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act 2026 for workplaces and educational institutions is currently being drafted. Additionally, the process of enacting the Domestic Violence Prevention Act 2026 is underway, which will repeal the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 and include provisions for protecting victims of domestic violence, preventing and suppressing domestic violence crimes, prosecuting offenders, and related matters.