Relatives of a 25-year-old man from Sarkerchar village in Shibchar upazila, Madaripur, said Iqbal Madbar has died in Libya and that the news reached them on Thursday morning.
Relatives said he left home after brokers Sagor Madbar and Kamrul Madbar, accused of being part of a human trafficking group, promised him passage to Italy under a deal for which the family paid Tk 20 lakh.
Instead of reaching Italy, he was taken to Libya, where relatives said he was detained; one account said he was arrested by police and jailed before being handed over to a group the family called mafia.
The family said the group demanded Tk 12 lakh as ransom, that they borrowed money and sent Tk 8 lakh, and that Iqbal was tortured after the remaining Tk 4 lakh was not paid.
His elder sister, Mukta Akter, said a Bengali man who had been with him telephoned to say Iqbal had died and his funeral had been held; she blamed broker Sagor Madbar, who she said was absconding, and demanded justice and the return of her brother's body.
Shibchar police station Officer-in-Charge Kamal Hossain said legal measures would be taken if a complaint was received.
Family members said they had sold land and borrowed money to send Iqbal abroad.
The relatives' accounts differ on how long before his death he left home and on his route, with one description mentioning stops in Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.