Motorcades transporting former German World Cup champion Mesut Ozil and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son, Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, were involved in a traffic incident after leaving Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday night. The mishap occurred around 7:00 pm on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway in the Kutupalong area of Ukhiya, shortly following the delegation’s tour of the refugee camps. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among Ozil, Bilal Erdogan, or other Turkish delegates.
However, a motorized auto-rickshaw sustained significant damage after a collision with one of the vehicles in the VIP convoy. The auto-rickshaw driver was injured, although his identity remains unconfirmed. According to Saiful Islam, the Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Shahpari Dwip Highway Police Station, the auto-rickshaw unexpectedly entered the convoy, violating protocol and causing the accident.
Authorities have taken possession of the auto-rickshaw, and the injured driver has received initial medical treatment locally. Police have initiated further investigations, and legal actions will follow. Earlier in the day, Ozil and the Turkish delegation inspected facilities within the Rohingya camps. Ozil engaged in a football match with Rohingya youngsters at Camp-4 during the afternoon and later participated in an iftar gathering in the evening.