Cultivation of White Muscle Pangas brought from Vietnam bears bright prospect in the country as it is a good source of protein and a potential export item.

Dr Harunur Rashid, a professor of Fisheries Management Department of Fisheries Faculty of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), along with his research team is working to popularise the variety.

After start of its cultivation in the country three decades ago, Thai variety of pangas became favourite among local consumers but in recent years, its popularity declined due to its odd smell and high amount of fat, said Dr Harun.

As pangas is a good source of animal protein for common people, fishery scientists looked for its other varieties that would interest local consumers, he said.

"After successful research of our team, the white pangas with less smell and less fat is now being cultivated commercially at several places of the country. The fish is also a potential export item," said the scientist.

Four former students of BAU fisheries faculty took a project for commercial cultivation of pangas at their farm in Phulbaria upazila of Mymensingh district in 2011, sources said.

"We collected some 1200 pangas fry from Vietnam in 2011 and reared those in natural water body for three years. Later, we got around 250 matured fishes and got some 20 lakh fry from them in 2015," said Abdul Kadir Tarafder, managing director of the farm.

"We involved our teacher Dr Harun with the research work and he guided us to make the project a success. We started selling pangas fry in the market from January this year and so far sold some 10 lakh fry at Tk 1.25 to Tk 1.50 per fry.

"Businessmen from different areas of the district are coming here to buy the fry. The cultivation process is the same as Thai pangus but the cost is less and the market price is higher," said Tarafder.

The fish is produced mainly in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and China, he said.

"The nature and climate of Bangladesh is suitable for cultivation of white pangas. It can create self-employment for thousands of people. It has great demand in Western countries and so, arrangement for its export will boost our economy," said Nadim Ahmed Chowdhury, another researcher of the farm.

Around 25 tonnes of pangas can be produced in a one-acre pond, he said, adding that students from BAU fisheries faculty often visit the farm for conducting research.