The body of veteran pilot Captain Saifuzzaman, who lost his life in a tragic boating accident in Canada, arrived in Dhaka in small hours of Friday. His funeral prayers in home city will be held on Saturday.
The first prayers was held at around 11am at Shaheen Mosque, BAF Base Bashar, north of BAF Shaheen College in the capital. A second funeral prayer will be held at Banani DOHS field after the noon Zuhr prayers on Saturday , to be followed by burial at BAF Shaheen Graveyard, Tejgaon, Dhaka at about 2:30pm.
On June 8, 2025, Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ veteran Boeing 787 pilot, Captain Saifuzzaman Guddu, and his friend former Vice President of BGMEA and Managing Director of Team Group, Abdullah Hill Rakib, lost their lives in a canoeing accident at a lake near Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, during a family vacation.
The tragic incident occurred when Saifuzzaman and Rakib, along with their families, visited the shores of Kawartha Lake. Saifuzzaman, Rakib, and the latter’s son went boating in a small dinghy when strong winds capsized the vessel. While Rakib’s son managed to swim ashore around 3pm, the other two drowned. Police and rescue teams later recovered their bodies.
“With heavy hearts, we receive the body of our beloved captain, who tragically lost his life in a boat accident. Returned to us from Toronto, he sails now on his final journey. It so hard to see him traveling in the cargo hold who used to command the flight,” said Biman pilot Zohra Mahzabeen Mondira. “You will be forever missed and honored Capt Saif Sir.”
Saifuzzaman is survived by his wife and two daughters. Abdullah Hill Rakib leaves behind his wife, a son, and a daughter.