11/02/2026
A note from Dr. Md. Zahid Hossain for his beloved son:
نَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
“Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we shall return.” - (Surah Al-Baqarah: 156)
With profound sorrow, we share the passing of Mohammad Safwan Zahid (affectionately known as my Jan Bachcha, Koljar Tukra, Janer Jaan, Shob Kichu—my little baby boy, my Babanza), who returned to his Creator at the age of 25 years and 2 months.
• Date of Birth: 02 December 2000
• Date of Death: 02 February 2026 (Monday, Canada time)
Safwan was the cherished son of Dr. Md. Zahid Hossain and Kanita Rahman, and a beloved brother to Zarifa Faliha Zahid. While his family resides in Bangladesh, he had been living in Canada pursuing his studies, carrying the warmth and love of his family wherever he went.
At the time of his passing, he was completing his final term at the University of Toronto, pursuing a demanding dual degree that reflected his wide-ranging interests:
• a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Rotman School of Management, and
• a Master of Global Affairs (MGA) at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (2024–June 2026).
Alongside his studies, he co-founded MATRA, a Toronto-based initiative dedicated to creating safe and secure AI systems. He served as an advisor on the Canadian government’s “Safe AI” policy initiatives through the AI & Trust Working Group at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI), University of Toronto. He also served as a Research Assistant in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto, preparing grant proposals in AI ethics and exploring opportunities to develop AI initiatives in Bangladesh. Deans at the University of Toronto paid tribute to him as one of the brightest students they had ever known.
Safwan’s dedication was recognized through numerous honors and awards, reflecting both his academic excellence and his commitment to innovation and leadership. During his postgraduate studies, he was a Rotman MBA Creative Destruction Lab Fellow, a program that provided direct exposure to pioneering science and technology ventures, mentorship from visionary founders, and hands-on experience in bringing innovative ideas to life. He also received the Entrance Award Scholarship from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, awarded to exceptional international students in recognition of academic achievement.
Earlier, during his bachelor’s studies, he was named a University of Toronto International Scholar, one of the most prestigious awards for international students, and received the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Entrance Award of Merit for outstanding academic performance. He was also recognized as a Dean’s List Scholar (2021) for maintaining a high GPA while carrying a full course load.
His academic journey began at Sunbeams, where he completed his IGCSE O Levels in 2018. He then attended UWC Atlantic College (2018–2020) for the International Baccalaureate (IB), an experience that broadened his outlook and introduced him to a diverse global community. During this time, he participated in the Adventure Leadership Program and engaged in charity work, football, swimming, and photography.
Safwan went on to complete an Honours Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at the University of Toronto Mississauga (2020–2024), studying Political Science, Economics, and Women and Gender Studies, and graduated with High Distinction. During his undergraduate years, he spent a full academic year on scholarship at Sciences Po in France (2022–2023), where he conducted field interviews and observational research, studied econometrics and macroeconomics using R, and learned French. Sciences Po, also known as the Paris Institute of Political Studies, is France’s leading university in the social sciences.
Throughout his studies, Safwan demonstrated a consistent interest in how technology and policy shape everyday life. His work included contributions to the King County Housing Market study, research on bias in AI-based résumé screening, and an examination of technology-facilitated gender-based sexual violence among adolescents. As his CS50 final project, he developed Mixtape, a Python application using the iTunes API, and completed a quantitative study at Sciences Po on urbanization and economic growth. At the Munk School, he contributed to policy memos and proposals on cybersecurity, generative AI adoption among Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises, autonomous weapons governance, and a proposal titled The Case for a Procedural AI Auditing System.
Alongside his academic work, Safwan deeply valued practical experience and community involvement. He trained as a research assistant at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, studying the economic impact of COVID-19 and the Rohingya refugee crisis. As a Division II Director at the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU), he supported student leadership initiatives, coordinated seminars, developed mentorship programs, and helped direct a Job Readiness Support program enrolling more than 200 students. He also assisted in recruiting volunteers for a free tax-filing service and launched the “Education for All” survey for the “Access to Education” initiative, which gathered over 1,500 responses. As Director of External Affairs for the Bangladeshi Students’ Association, he organized events connecting students with professionals and alumni.
Safwan also gained experience in finance and corporate analysis. At Bank Asia Limited, he worked in Special Asset Management, contributing to national budget analysis, improving collateral property evaluations for board review, and supporting recovery initiatives. At KPMG Bangladesh, he supported a bank merger and acquisition engagement, developed a documentation-completeness scoring framework for a large collateral portfolio, and applied International Valuation Standards to a wide range of securities.
In Toronto, Safwan continued to combine technical work with organizational development. As Executive Project Manager at Empowered Transformations, he led the launch of the organization’s website, supported the transition to online scheduling, assisted with CRM and accounting system implementation, and contributed to digital outreach initiatives. He also supported the development of a memorandum of understanding with Shanta Group to establish a school-based mental health system across four private schools.
Outside of his academic and professional life, Safwan was deeply committed to athletics and physical fitness. He was an amateur boxer with the Bangladesh Boxing Federation and participated in the Bangladesh National Games 2020 (held in 2021). During a 2019 internship at Ruslan’s Studio in Dhaka, he gained hands-on experience in personal training, focusing on exercise technique, injury prevention, and client care. Over more than 100 hours, he built meaningful relationships with clients and collaborated with fellow trainers to continuously improve his skills and impact.
In his short life, Safwan achieved extraordinary academic and professional success. He was a beloved son and a dear brother. We humbly request the community to attend the Janazah prayer and to remember Safwan and his family in your du’as during this time of immense grief.
Janazah Prayer Details:
• Date: Friday, 13 February 2026
• Time: 1:15 PM
• Location: Gulshan Central Mosque (Azad Mosque)
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him the highest place in Jannatul Firdaus, and envelop him in His mercy. May He also grant patience, strength, and comfort to his parents, sister, and all who loved him. Please continue to remember him in your prayers.
Ameen.
