Six young men from Monoharganj upazila in Cumilla, who left home hoping to reach Italy for a better future, have been taken hostage in Libya by a human trafficking gang. The traffickers are demanding Tk 15 million in ransom for their release and have been sending videos of brutal torture to the victims’ families. The hostages include Shahadat Hossain, Manikul Islam, Md. Sohel, Taj Mohammad, Foysal, and Mehedi Hasan.

According to the families, local brokers arranged their travel to Italy for Tk 1.8 to 2 million per person, but after reaching Libya, the men were handed over to traffickers. They were held for about eight months before being transferred to another group that is now demanding Tk 2.5 million per person. Families say the traffickers are pressuring them through video calls and messages showing the victims’ suffering.

The families have submitted a written appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking government intervention. The local police said no formal complaint has yet been filed, but they will take legal action once a report is received. Residents have urged swift action to rescue the hostages and bring the traffickers to justice.