Another sad story about human trafficking was reported recently by The Associated Press. One of the victims told his story to the press rather than potentially being jailed by the authorities. Sharif, a Muslim, along with hundreds of men now living in Bangladesh had tried to get to Malaysia, where there is much higher paying employment. Originally, Sharif and thousands had fled their native country of Myanmar to live in Bangladesh. They were being persecuted by the Myanmar leaders because they were a minority Muslim group. Sharif and the other migrants had to paddle boats to a large tanker, and the tanker was supposed to take them to Thailand. From there, they would walk through the forest into Malaysia. However, the tankers engine went out, and they drifted for four weeks on the waters. To hide from patrol boats, they were required to live in a small area below deck, and could only come out at dark. They received little food, were beaten, and three men died. Finally, authorities from a naval patrol ship arrested everyone and dropped them off in Thailand. They were imprisoned there for two weeks under worse conditions; then, were put on small boats with no food and told to go home. They landed on Myanmar where the authorities put them in jail. There they were only fed rice twice a week and badly beaten again. Sharif finally got home after his family scrapped together money for his release. Human trafficking has been a continuously horrific problem in these countries as well as other parts of the world.
Migrants endure brutal trips in desperate attempt to leave Bangladesh for jobs By: Parveen Ahmed
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