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| A portrait of Abdullah Hill Rakib, showing him smiling. |
Abdullah Hill Rakib, Managing Director (MD) of the country's leading industrial group Team Group and former Senior Vice President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has died in a tragic boat sinking in Canada (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun). The accident occurred yesterday, Sunday (June 8, 2025) in Sturgeon Lake in the Kawartha Lakes region of the Canadian province of Ontario.
According to local media reports, Rakib, along with his friend Saifuzzaman Guddu and his son, went for a ride on a small boat (canoe) in the lake around noon. At that time, family members on the shore were recording videos on their mobile phones. Suddenly, the boat lost its balance and capsized. Although Rakib's son was able to swim back to the shore, Rakib and Saifuzzaman drowned in the water. Later, a local rescue team reached the spot and recovered their bodies.
Ontario Provincial Police said that no one on the boat was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. Initial investigations suggest that the lack of life jackets and the harsh conditions of the lake played a role in the accident.
Abdullah Hill Rakib was a well-known and respected entrepreneur in the garment sector of Bangladesh. His death has cast a deep shadow on the country's business and industrial community. Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of BGMEA and additional managing director of Denim Expert Limited, confirmed the news of Rakib's death this morning (June 9, 2025).
The team group is spread across various sectors including RMG, pharmaceuticals, retail, IT and real estate. Under the leadership of Abdullah Hill Rakib, the group has played a significant role in the country's economic development. His untimely demise is an irreparable loss to the country's industrial sector.
Date: June 9, 2025
Author: Kazi Fahsin
Publisher: Novokanth (Novonicle)
