In Memoriam: Abdullah Hil Rakib, visionary architect of garment industry revival

The apparel industry is in deep mourning following the passing of Abdullah Hil Rakib, a visionary entrepreneur and a driving force in revitalising the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.

Rakib, aged nearly 54, died in a boating accident in Canada on June 8, along with his childhood friend, Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

News of his sudden death sent shockwaves through the RMG industry and the wider business community, with many expressing their condolences through social media, reflecting the widespread impact of his loss.

A legacy of transformation

For nearly three decades, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Managing Director of Team Group, was a pivotal figure in the RMG industry, serving as a senior vice president of BGMEA. After his education, he gained six years of experience with local and international organisations before becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Rakib earned immense respect for his transformative work, converting struggling garment factories into thriving, modern enterprises. His approach wasn't just about business acumen; it showcased his deep conviction in the hidden potential of existing infrastructure and human talent.

In an industry often plagued by closures and job losses, Rakib emerged as a beacon of hope, seeing not obstacles, but opportunities in the silent, shuttered factories across the industrial landscape.

The genesis of Team Group

Abdullah Hil Rakib started off his career in 1993 at a trading company. After six years of gaining experience with both local and international firms, he founded a buying house in Singapore in 1999 with a model of profit-sharing partnership.

In 2009, his manufacturing journey began by acquiring four struggling factories. Guided by his vision and leadership, these operations were successfully transformed into profitable enterprises. Notably, two of these are now LEED-certified environmentally friendly factories, with two more awaiting certification.

Rakib also launched the successful local clothing brand Twelve, which boasts a vast network of outlets nationwide. He envisioned expanding Twelve to all 64 districts by 2030 and entering major cities in Canada and the USA. Operations in the USA already commenced in 2024.

Diversification and future ambitions

Currently, Team Group produces nearly 100 million apparel pieces annually, comprising 55 million circular knit, 18 million sweaters, and 25 million woven items. The company has diversified its portfolio significantly, with a strong presence in apparel manufacturing and merchandising, pharmaceuticals, IT, real estate, and its retail brand Twelve Clothing. This multifaceted operation generates an impressive annual turnover of approximately $750 million, with $315 million from apparel manufacturing and $430 million from trading. Over 100 factories collaborate with Team Manufacturing Company Ltd (formerly Team Sourcing).

This remarkable growth is attributed to the dedication of its 23,000 highly skilled employees. The group aims to achieve an ambitious $1 billion turnover by 2028.

In a recent interview, Abdullah Hil Rakib credited his long-standing team, including school friends and family members who form a significant part of the 26-person top management, for the group's success.

He emphasised his management approach: identifying the right leader for new projects and then providing a year of guidance and monitoring. Rakib fostered a brotherhood-like relationship with his employees, taking personal care of them from coordinators to workers.

Rakib firmly believed that the RMG sector, including its sub-sectors, holds growth potential for another 25-30 years. He highlighted the group's diversification into retail with Twelve Clothing in 2017 to leverage their RMG expertise.

Furthermore, he mentioned their commitment to innovation and sustainability, including developing an IoT device for factory waste management in collaboration with the government, expected to be implemented by late 2024.

Personal life and funeral arrangements

Abdullah Hil Rakib was the fourth of six siblings. He is survived by his wife, Afroza Shaheen, and their two children, Mahir Daiyan and Lamia Tabassum. For their children's education, the family had resided in Toronto, Canada, for several years, where Rakib's wife also lived. Rakib regularly travelled from Dhaka to Canada for holidays, having departed last Thursday to celebrate Eid with his family in Canada.

Abdullah Hil Nakib, Deputy Managing Director of Team Group and Rakib's elder brother, confirmed on Tuesday that Rakib's body was kept in a morgue. The first namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer) will be held at the Sunnate Jamat Mosque in Danforth, Toronto, at 7:00 PM local time on Wednesday. The family will then depart for Bangladesh with his body on a Biman flight, expecting to arrive in Dhaka on Friday night.

In Bangladesh, Rakib's first janaza will take place on Saturday at 10:00 AM at his workplace, the BGMEA Complex in Uttara. A second janaza is scheduled for the same day, after Zuhr prayers, around 2:00 PM, at the Banani DOHS field near his residence. Later, he will be laid to rest at Banani Graveyard.

The family requests everyone's presence at the janaza.