Rohingya Muslims in Arakan, who fled from the persecution of the Myanmar administration to seek refuge in neighboring countries such as Bangladesh for a better life, often face great dangers on journey of hope.

Bangladesh Coast Guard said they have rescued 382 refugees who face starvation in a large boat in the country's territorial waters.

“We have rescued at least 382 Rohingya from a big overcrowded fishing trawler and brought them to a beach near Teknaf. They were starving. They were floating for 58 days. And over the last seven days it was moving in our territorial waters,” said Lieutenant Shah Zia Rahman, a spokesman for Bangladesh's coast guard.

“32 Rohingya died aboard the overcrowded trawler and their bodies were thrown in the sea,” he added.

The largest Muslim group in Myanmar are the Rohingya people; the Rohingyas have been among the most persecuted group under Myanmar's military regime. The UN states that the Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted groups in the world.

Since 1948, successive governments have carried out 13 military operations against the Rohingya (including in 1975, 1978, 1989, 1991–92, 2002). During the operations, Myanmar security forces have driven the Rohingyas off their land, burned down their mosques and committed widespread looting, arson and rape of Rohingya Muslims.

Outside of these military raids, Rohingya are subjected to frequent theft and extortion from the authorities and many are subjected to forced labor. In some cases, land occupied by Rohingya Muslims has been confiscated and reallocated to local Buddhists.

ILKHA