Recently Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) claimed success in its quest for artificial breeding of endangered indigenous species of fish, Kakila.The institute, which has won the Ekushey Padak in native fish conservation research, claims to be ahead of the world in discovering the insemination process for Kakila. However, Abdul Ohab, a fish farmer from Bogura, denounced this claim as a rip off to the marginal fish farmers, and that he was the first one who found success in this process a year before BFRI. The farmer told UNB he informed the BFRI officials then about his discovery of artificial breeding of Batashi and Kakila fish. He even announced his success at the time through a social media post which was featured in local news media. READ: Researchers find way to save Kakila fish from extinction: BFRI Abdul Ohab also shared a screenshot of a BFRI senior official liking his post in social media with UNB. In that Facebook post dated July 13, 2020 seen by UNB (available for viewing on his timeline) Abdul Ohab writes, "From personal experience of collecting, rearing and artificially breeding I can surely say that this species of fish is on the verge of extinction. This sensitive fish may die even with the slightest mistake while carrying it to the river bank from the water.” He also attached some images of his discovery, which are shared with this story. “Facing many difficulties like keeping the hormone level in control through pushing injections under water, determining the gender of the fish, yet I’m content that I finally found success in inventing the artificial breeding process that may save this fish from getting extinct.” Due to the egg being big in size, Ohab couldn’t collect more than 60-80 eggs from a fully grown female Kakila fish. The eggs started hatching after 108 hours in 27-27.5 degree Celsius temperature, Ohab wrote in his post.

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute is currently on a roll and writing one success story after another in its quest for artificial insemination of endangered indigenous species of fish and the latest one has come in regards to Kakila. The institute, which has won the Ekushey Padak in native fish conservation research, hopes that these achievements will have a huge impact in the conservation of endangered indigenous fish as well as contribute to higher production of native fish in the country. While talking to UNB, the researchers of BFRI said that at one time indigenous species of fish could be found in abundance in inland waters, but many of these have either disappeared or on verge of being extinct due to damage to habitats and breeding grounds triggered by climate change, natural disasters and other man-made causes. Read: How Jashore's fisheries output grew in the midst of a pandemic But scientists working in the Jashore centre of BFRI have recently made huge progress in inventing artificial breeding techniques for such species of fish. They have achieved this after three years of intensive research. The chief scientific officer of BFRI Jessore substation Dr Md Rabiul Awal Hossain, senior scientific officer Shariful Islam and scientific officer Shishir Kumar Dey conducted the study. Consider Kakila, once found in plenty in inland fresh water bodies including rivers, ponds and haors’ (a wetland ecosystem in the north eastern part of Bangladesh). Read Hilsa Ilisha: The National Fish and Silver Pride of Bangladesh The onion meals made out of Kakila are like nectar to the foodies. It is not only a tongue pleaser, but this fish is also rich in beneficial nutrients for the human body. Researchers told UNB that per 100 grams of edible kakila fish contains 16.1 per cent protein, 2.23 per cent lipid, 2.14 per cent phosphorus and 0.94 per cent calcium which is much higher than other small fish. According to the scientists, Kakila, (Xenentodon cancila, Scientific name) is recognised as Freshwater garfish  in English. It belongs to the Belonidae family of fish. Read: Khulna shrimp farmers fighting to regain business amid pandemic Apart from Bangladesh, the fish is found in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand. However, there are some differences in colour and size.