Ex-BGMEA Leader and The national flag carrier of Bangladesh Biman Bangladesh Airline Pilot Lost in Canada Boat Tragedy
#thenewscompany : The vast blue sky was his daily companion, a realm where he soared, guiding countless lives safely to their destinations. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, nature, which had always been his lifelong guardian, suddenly embraced him in an eternal, watery stillness. A serene vacation transformed into a heartbreaking tragedy, culminating in the calm depths of Sturgeon Lake, Canada.
On Sunday, June 8th, in the picturesque Lindsay, Ontario, Captain Saifuzzaman Guddu, a highly experienced Boeing 787 pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, along with his close friend and former BGMEA Vice President and Team Group Managing Director Abdullalhil Rakib, drowned while canoeing in a lake adjacent to a cottage.
Captain Guddu had arrived in Canada just yesterday with his wife and younger daughter, looking forward to a family vacation and a reunion with his elder daughter, who is currently studying at a university in Toronto. On the day of the incident, they traveled approximately 130 kilometers from Toronto to the town of Lindsay and checked into a cottage. Around 2 PM, Captain Guddu, his friend, and his friend’s son embarked on the lake in a canoe. A canoe is a light, narrow boat, typically open-topped, propelled by paddles, and commonly used on rivers, lakes, and calm waters.
As the canoe glided across the tranquil lake, his wife and younger daughter stood on the shore, recording the idyllic scene on their phones. Suddenly, the canoe capsized. His friend’s son managed to swim to shore, but Captain Guddu and his friend did not resurface. Rescuers later recovered both individuals, but sadly, they were no longer alive.
Fahmida Tony, Captain Guddu’s cousin residing in Mississauga, described him as an exceptionally skilled and capable pilot. The son of a Bangladesh Air Force officer, Captain Guddu grew up in a disciplined environment, inheriting a strong sense of responsibility and self-confidence from a young age.
Lindsay, Ontario, is a peaceful tourist destination renowned for its water sports like boating, kayaking, and canoeing. Such tragic accidents are uncommon there. The incident is believed to have been caused by sudden strong winds, the absence of life jackets, or a lack of experience in handling the canoe.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) confirmed that two men died after a canoe overturned in a lake in the Kawartha Lakes region on Sunday afternoon. Police reported that emergency services responded to a boat accident on Sturgeon Lake shortly after 3 PM.
Three men were in the canoe; one managed to swim to shore, while the other two, unfortunately, succumbed to the water. Police also confirmed that none of the three individuals on the canoe were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
The man who once safely guided thousands of passengers through the skies is now gone. This tragic event, unfolding before the eyes of his wife and daughters, will forever leave an indelible mark on their lives.
A serene afternoon on the lake unexpectedly penned a poignant, unforgettable chapter, where nature and humanity, water and life, merged into an unforeseen stream of tears. We extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to their grieving family.
Image Source : Internet