Former footballer Mesut Ozil visits Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar, plays football, supports humanitarian efforts with Turkish delegation. Photo : BSS

COX'S BAZAR, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - Former German star and World Cup-winning footballer Mesut Ozil enjoyed a football match at a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar today. 

An 11-member delegation, led by Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied Mesut Ozil during the visit. 

After the match, the team joined an Iftar with the Rohingyas and inspected various humanitarian aid activities run by the Turkish government. 

The delegation first arrived at the Balukhali Rohingya Camp No. 9 in Ukhiya at 1 pm today where they visited the Turkish Field Hospital and observed the medical services provided to the Rohingyas. 

Later, they went to the Education and Cultural Center operated by the Turkish voluntary organization TIKA. There, Ozil and Bilal Erdogan took photographs with Rohingya children.

In the afternoon, at Rohingya Camp No. 4, Mesut Ozil participated in a charity football match with the Rohingyas. The crowd around the field erupted with excitement at the sight of Ozil, and Rohingya footballers expressed their enthusiasm at being able to play alongside him.

During the visit, Necmettin Bilal Erdogan stated that Turkey would continue its humanitarian efforts so that Rohingyas could eventually return to their country with full citizenship rights. 

He also urged the international community to support the Rohingyas.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman said that Turkey has been providing humanitarian aid since the start of the Rohingya crisis. 

He said the Bangladesh government is very serious about repatriating the Rohingyas, and that the delegation was informed of this. 

Bangladesh has also sought Turkey's help to reopen schools for Rohingya children in the camps, which have been remained closed. Erdogan assured support for restarting these educational centers.

In the morning, Bilal Erdogan told journalists at the Commissioner's office that Rohingyas have been deprived of basic education for more than four decades. To enable them to return proudly to their country one day, it is crucial to equip them with education and technical skills now, he said adding that their visit aims to observe the real situation on the ground.

Expressing concern over reduced international aid for the Rohingya crisis, Bilal Erdogan said that the level of international assistance has significantly decreased. He hoped that the visit of a world-renowned figure like Mesut Ozil would attract the attention of international donors and countries to this humanitarian crisis once again.

Mesut Ozil, former player for Real Madrid and Arsenal, was part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team. 

He retired from international football in 2018.