Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a senior pilot with Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Abdullah Hil Rakib (Pappu), a leading garment industry entrepreneur and former BGMEA vice president, tragically lost their lives in a kayaking accident on Quinte Lake in Ontario, Canada.
According to family sources, the incident occurred on Sunday, June 8, in the afternoon local time.
The two men were on a family trip and had gone out on Quinte Lake in a kayak when it suddenly capsized. Despite being experienced swimmers, both drowned after falling into the water.
Eyewitnesses stated that the rest of the family was on the shore at the time of the accident, which took place only 10 to 15 feet from the lake’s edge. Both men were seated deep inside the kayak up to the waist, and reportedly became trapped underwater when the boat flipped, preventing them from escaping in time. They drowned before any rescue effort could be completed.
Captain Saifuzzaman was a senior Boeing 787 pilot with Biman Bangladesh Airlines. In a statement, the airline expressed deep sorrow at his passing, highlighting his professionalism, sense of duty, and commitment, describing him as a source of pride for the national carrier. "His untimely death has created a void that will not be easily filled," the statement read.
In accordance with the family’s wishes, Biman’s Toronto office has already contacted the Bangladesh High Commission in Canada to arrange for the repatriation of Captain Saifuzzaman’s remains. The airline also extended prayers for the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the grieving family.
