Rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) today urged the government to strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy against violence against women and children, saying such crimes have no place in a just and democratic state.

It demands the immediate identification and arrest of all those involved in raping a woman and her teenage daughter during robbery in Cox’s Bazar yesterday.

In a statement, ASK expressed deep concern over the incident and urged the authorities to ensure urgent medical treatment, psychological support, legal assistance, and maximum security for the victims.

The woman and her teenage daughter were raped by armed criminals who broke into their house around 2:30am in the newly formed Matamuhuri upazila.

“Such a brutal and inhumane incident is not just an individual tragedy, it raises serious questions about the state's ability to ensure the safety of women and children, as well as the overall law and order situation,” it said.

ASK believes that sexual violence against women and heinous crimes such as gang-rape are unacceptable under any circumstances.

Such incidents severely undermine citizens’ sense of security and create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in society.

ASK called on the government to strengthen law enforcement and local vigilance, and ensure swift, impartial justice for the victims.