Govt to go for pearl culture

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) has planned to begin a five-year project for pearl culture in the country, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas told parliament yesterday.

He said if the project is approved it will be possible to produce pearls on commercial basis.

In reply to a query of Awami League lawmaker, Apu Ukil, the minister in a scripted answer said the BFRI had conducted a research on the culture of pearls in sweet water in 1999 on special interest of the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The outcome of the research is encouraging. Scientists of the institute have already gathered experience in pearl culture," Biswas said.

Referring to the result of the research, the minister said that a maximum of 12 pearls could be produced from an oyster. But the pearl in our country is small in size due to the size of oyster.