What was meant to be a peaceful family vacation turned into a devastating tragedy as Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ veteran Boeing 787 pilot, Captain Saifuzzaman Guddu, and 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
As family members stood helplessly on the lakeshore, witnessing the unthinkable unfold before their eyes, a peaceful afternoon turned into a lifetime of heartbreak.
The lake, once calm and inviting, now holds a memory soaked in grief—a poetic silence where nature and fate converged in a single, irreversible moment.
Captain Saifuzzaman, who had flown into Toronto just a day prior with his wife and young daughter, was visiting to spend time with his elder daughter studying at a university in the city. On Sunday, June 8, the family and friends traveled about 130 kilometers from Toronto to a lakeside cottage in the serene town of Lindsay, nestled in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region—known for its natural beauty and popular water activities such as canoeing and kayaking.
According to eyewitness accounts and local reports, around 2 PM, Captain Saifuzzaman, along with Rakib and Rakib’s son, set out on a canoe ride on the calm lake while his wife and younger daughter filmed them from the shore. Suddenly, the canoe capsized, likely due to unexpected gusts of wind. While Rakib’s son managed to swim back to shore, both Saifuzzaman and Rakib went under and did not resurface.
Emergency services, including Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), rushed to the scene following reports of the overturned canoe at Sturgeon Lake in the Kawartha Lakes region shortly after 3 PM. The two men were later recovered from the water but were declared dead.
OPP confirmed that none of the three men were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident. Investigators suspect that a combination of wind, lack of flotation devices, and possibly limited canoeing experience contributed to the tragedy. Fatal incidents in the area’s lakes are rare, making this even more shocking for the local community.
Captain Saifuzzaman was known for his professionalism, skill, and dedication. Born into a family with a strong military background—his father served in the Bangladesh Air Force—he was raised with discipline, responsibility, and a deep sense of duty. His cousin, Fahmida Tony, who resides in Mississauga, described him as a confident and respected pilot who had safely guided thousands of passengers through the skies, a Fecbook post reads.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines expressed deep sorrow and stated that efforts are underway, in coordination with the Bangladesh High Commission in Canada, to repatriate his body in accordance with his family’s wishes.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of Captain Saifuzzaman and Abdullah Hil Rakib, and stand in solidarity with them in this time of immeasurable loss, the national flag carrier stated in a stament.
Meanwhile, the tragedy left the Bangladeshi community residing in Canada in shock, but also left the business community in Bangladesh people of other walks of life in a state of complete disbelief.
In a statement, Bangladesh Garment manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) expressed deep condolences on the passing of Abdullah Hil Rakib, former Senior Vice President of BGMEA.
Abdullah Hil Rakib was a dynamic entrepreneur and a dedicated leader who worked for the ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh, a Facebook post reads.
On behalf of BGMEA, Administrator Anwar Hossain and President-elect Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu conveyed their heartfelt condolences, stating that “his absence will be deeply felt across the industry,” the statement said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues, and all those who were touched by his work and legacy,” it further stated.
After completing his education and working for six years in both local and international companies, Abdullah Hil Rakib established himself as a prominent entrepreneur in Bangladesh’s export-oriented ready-made garment (RMG) sector.
Unlike many others in the industry, he took a unique approach by acquiring four struggling garment factories one by one and successfully revitalizing them. Among these, two are now environmentally friendly factories. But he didn’t just revive the factories—he turned them into profitable ventures and created employment opportunities for thousands of people.
In addition to exports, he has also made his mark in the domestic market by launching the clothing brand Twelve. Within just a few years, the brand has grown to operate more than 20 retail outlets across the country.
Beyond garments, this successful entrepreneur had expanded his business into pharmaceuticals, technology, and real estate.