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on March 18 and Ilias on March 23. News of Faruk’s death reached his family on March 25, while Ilias’s relatives were informed on March 26 by a broker.

The families further claimed that traffickers in Bangladesh threatened them, warning that if they filed police cases or went to court, the bodies would not be returned. Out of fear, they have not yet taken legal action.

Faruk’s mother, Maleka Begum, told reporters yesterday that she did not know what happened inside the detention cell. “My son is gone. He has two small children. Who will look after them now?”

His mother‑in‑law, Nazma Begum, said brokers warned the family against contacting law enforcement, which is why they stayed silent.

Faruk had previously worked as a mason in Bangladesh before migrating to Saudi Arabia.

Ilias’s father, Kalam Hawlader, said his son went to Libya without informing the family.

“I somehow managed to pay Tk 20 lakh to broker Habib Master. Even then, my son died,” he said.

He added that the broker met the family in Dhaka on Friday and promised to repatriate the body and provide compensation, though without specifying when.

Attempts to reach the alleged broker, Habibur Rahman Khondakar, for comment were unsuccessful despite repeated phone calls and text messages.

Contacted, Md Jahangir Alam, Additional Superintendent of Police in Madaripur, told The Daily Star, “We’ve learnt that two men from the district had died in Libya after torture.

“No family member has contacted us yet, but we are taking the matter seriously. Local police have been sent to speak with the families, and legal action will follow based on the investigation.”