Case filed over rape of mother, daughter in Cox’s Bazar

ASK urges zero tolerance against such crimes

11 June 2026,

A case has been filed in connection with the alleged gang rape of a mother and her teenage daughter at their home in Cox’s Bazar.

One of the victims, the mother, filed the case early yesterday, accusing seven named and five to six unnamed people, said Md Monir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chakaria Police Station.

According to police, a group of eight to 10 men cut through a window grille of a house in the Dolnighona area, looted gold jewellery and cash, raped the woman and her teenage daughter, and fled.

At the time of the incident, the housewife was at home with her two daughters — one a teenager and one 7-year-old. Her husband was in Chattogram for business purposes.

Police have arrested five of the named accused — Tofazzal Hossain alias Babu, 23; Kefayat Hossain alias Puittya, 27; Mohammad Tanzid, 24; Mehedi Hasan, 24; and Mohammad Tareq, 26. Another person, Rezaul Karim, 36, was also arrested on suspicion.

However, another named accused, Jisan, remains at large, said the OC. The victims’ family has identified him as the key figure behind the incident.

Family members also alleged that the same criminal group had targeted their household on two to three previous occasions.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Cox’s Bazar Assistant Superintendent of Police Abhijit Das said Jisan was released from jail just five days before the attack. He had been serving time on weapons and robbery charges.

The OC said operations are ongoing to arrest the remaining accused.

Meanwhile, rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the incident.

In a statement, ASK said the “barbaric and inhumane” incident was not merely a personal tragedy but one that raises serious questions about the country’s law and order situation and its ability to ensure the safety of women and children.

The organisation said violence against women and children continues unabated, while shortcomings persist in crime prevention, prompt investigation, and effective accountability in many cases.

ASK demanded the swift identification, arrest, and prosecution of all those involved under the existing laws. It also called for emergency medical treatment, mental health support, legal assistance, and maximum security for the victims.

“Violence against women and children has no place in a just and democratic state,” the organisation said, urging the government to strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy to curb such crimes.