Dhaka, May 30 -- Human rights groups on Thursday urged the government to keep small-scale poor fishermen out of the 65-day fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal.

They asked the authorities concerned to bring identified polluters under accountability to protect the fish reserve and natural ecosystem at a Human Chain in front of National Press Club. It was jointly organised by COAST Trust and Bangladesh Fish Workers' Alliance (BFWA).

Mustafa Kamal Akanda of COAST Trust moderated the session.

BFWA General Secretary Mujibul Huq Munir presented the keynote paper while Barkat Ullah Maruf of COAST Trust, Badrul Alam and Rehana Akter of Bangladesh Krishok Federation also spoke at the programme.

Munir in his keynote paper presentation said, small-s...