Dhaka, Nov. 9 -- Two friends who left Bangladesh seeking better lives in Europe are being held in Libya, where their families say traffickers are torturing them and demanding ransom.

Kamal Khalifa and Atik Majhi left home three months ago after being lured by Akash Sardar of Naria's Lonsing. Their families say they were taken to Libya and handed over to a mafia group.

A video sent to relatives shows the men sitting on the floor of a locked room as they are beaten with belts. The families say they have paid Tk 4 million, selling land and possessions, but the men remain captive.

"We sold everything we had to save my son. We paid around Tk 2 million. They still will not release him and are demanding more money. Please bring my son back al...