A provision in the draft Marine Fisheries Act 2016 allowing foreign vessels to fish in Bangladesh territory with a license will be suicidal for Bangladesh’s security and economy, say rights groups. They expressed deep concern at a human chain and rally held in front of the National Press Club on Monday. The rights leaders argued that if foreign vessels were allowed to fish in Bangladesh’s territorial waters, the country’s marine resources would be under serious stress. Against this backdrop, as many as 28 rights-based civil society platforms, farmers, fishers and labour organisations demanded immediate scrapping of the provision in the draft law. The title of the human chain and rally said it all — “We demand amendment to the draft Marine Fisheries Act 2016: Allowing of foreign fishing vessels in Bangladesh territory will be suicidal”. According to international law, said Subal Sarkar of Bangladesh Bhumihin Samity, the country is not bound to open its sea to foreign fishing vessels. “We don’t have adequate fishing resources. The then undemocratic government passed the Marine Fisheries Ordinance in 1983 allowing license to foreign vessels,” he told the rally. Mihir Biswas, who represented Bangladesh Paribesh Bachao Andolon, pointed out that about half a million people are directly dependent on the the Bay of Bengal. “They don’t have mechanised boats for fishing. If the foreign vessels come, this marginalised community will suffer more,” he added. Zayed Iqbal Khan of Bangladesh Krishak Federtaion insisted that the government should give priority to the Bangladesh people. “The marine resources are not enough for our people, so why should we allow foreign fishing vessels?” Equity BD’s Rezaul Karim Chowdhury alleged that there is a conspiracy to foil the country’s victory in the sea.