Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

History

Dacca Survey School was established in 1876 as a survey school at Nalgola, west of the current Sir Salimullah Medical College campus, in Old Dhaka by the then Government of Bengal under British Raj. It offered a survey course of two years to train land surveyors, at the end of which students competed at the Sub-Overseer's examination. According to a report on public instruction in Bengal, on 31 March 1903, Dacca Survey School had 117 students of which 103 were Hindus and 14 were Muslims. In 1908, the school started to offer diploma degrees. Khwaja Ahsanullah, a philanthropist and member of the Dhaka Nawab Family, endowed donations for developing the survey school. After his death in 1901, his son, the then Nawab of Dhaka, Khwaja Salimullah released 112,000 rupees grant in 1902 in accordance. As an acknowledgement of this contribution, the school was renamed to Ahsanullah School of Engineering.

The school offered three-year long diploma courses in civil engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. In 1912, the university was moved to its present premises. A. K. Fazlul Huq, the then Prime Minister of Bengal, appointed Hakim Ali as the principal of the school in 1938. After the partition of India in 1947, the school was upgraded to Ahsanullah Engineering College, as a Faculty of Engineering under the University of Dhaka, offering four-year bachelor's course in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical and Metallurgical engineering. In 1948, the Government of East Pakistan granted recognition to the engineering college. Ali became the first principal of the college. In 1951, TH Mathewman was appointed the next principal. M. A. Rashid succeeded him in 1954 as the first Bengali principal of the college and held the post until 1960. In 1956, a new course curriculum and the semester system were introduced at the college.

On 1 June 1962, in order to create facilities for postgraduate studies and research, the college was upgraded to East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET), becoming the fourth university of the then East Pakistan. Rashid was appointed the first vice-chancellor of the university. A partnership with the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (renamed Texas A&M University) was forged, and professors from A&M came to teach and formulate the curriculum. During this period, EPUET offered courses in mechanical, electrical, civil, metallurgical, and chemical engineering, and architecture.

After the liberation war of 1971, and Bangladesh's independence, EPUET was renamed to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Several other departments offer graduate and undergraduate courses in different subjects: Water resources engineering, Urban and regional planning, Naval architecture and marine engineering, Industrial and production engineering, Petroleum and mineral resources engineering, Computer science and engineering, Glass and ceramic engineering, and Biomedical engineering. These courses were all added to the university at different times.

In 2007, BUET celebrated 60 years (1947–2007) of engineering education in Bangladesh by arranging a 6 month long series of programs and events.

Faculties and Departments

Academic activities are undertaken by eighteen departments under five faculties. Twelve departments offer undergraduate courses. All of the departments aside from the department of Humanities offer postgraduate courses.

Institutes

At present there are six institutes in BUET. These institutes offer postgraduate diplomas, master's and doctoral degrees.

Research Centers

Directorates

Journals and Research Bulletins

Library

BUET central library has an extensive compilation of books, journals, periodicals and monographs of relevant engineering fields. The library has a collection of 1,42,913 items of information materials. Among the materials, 1,25,066 and 17,847 are books and bound periodicals respectively. Besides, 141 titles are in the current subscription list of journals. Every year, 1500 volumes are added to this library. The main reading room of the central library can accommodate 200 students at a time to provide reading facilities of rare and out-of-print books, and also ready reference and prescribed textbooks. The library offers free internet and a rental library program. Both undergraduate and post-graduate students are eligible to use the internet on production of their valid ID cards along with the user name and password obtainable from IICT. There are also departmental libraries in each of the departments and institutes and hall libraries in each of the residence halls.

Convocations

After the independence of Bangladesh and the subsequent name change, the first convocation of the university was held in 1973. Since then, convocations have been held in 1976, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011.

Administration

The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university who appoints the Vice-chancellor. The position is held by the incumbent President of Bangladesh. The Vice-chancellor is the executive head of the university. The position is always held by a senior Professor of the university. The university is administered by the University Syndicate which is chaired by the Vice-chancellor. Members of the Syndicate include Deans of several faculties, Director General of Secondary and Higher Education in Bangladesh, Director General of Technical Education in Bangladesh, eminent academics from this university as well as from other famous public universities. Each of the faculties is headed by a Dean and each of the departments is chaired by a Head of the department. They are generally full professors from their respective faculties and departments. Institutes, Research Centers and Directorates are headed by the Directors who are full professors from relevant fields of research. Other major administrative posts include the Registrar, the Comptroller and the Controller of Exams.

The university has also the following Statutory Authorities.

The University Syndicate is the supreme authority in major policy-making matters and in approving recommendations. The Finance Committee, the Planning and Development Committee and other committees assist the Syndicate in matters important for proper functioning of the University. The Academic Council is the supreme body for formulating academic rules and regulations to which the CASR, Boards of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies and the Faculties recommend.

List of Vice-chancellors

Following is the complete list of the Vice-chancellors.

1. M. A. Rashid (1962–1970)
2. M. A. Naser (1970–1975)
3. Wahiduddin Ahmed (1975-1983)
4. Abdul Matin Patwari (1983-1987)
5. Musharrof Husain Khan (1987-1991)
6. Muhammad Shahjahan (1991-1996)
7. Iqbal Mahmud (1996–1998)
8. Nooruddin Ahmed (1998-2002)
9. Md. Alee Murtuza (2002-2006)
10. A. M. M. Safiullah (2006–2010)
11. S M Nazrul Islam (2010-2014)
12. Khaleda Ekram (2014–2016)
13. Saiful Islam (2016-present)

Undergraduate

The Undergraduate admission test is one of the most intensive written examinations in Bangladesh. After completion of Higher Secondary level (H.S.C.) education, a student can submit her or his application for undergraduate admission if he/she fulfills the minimum requirements. The students with the best grades in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English and Bengali on their higher secondary examination are allowed to take the admission test. The screening process allows 9000 students to sit for the admission test, based on the cumulative sum of their GPAs in these five subjects . After the admission test, only about 1030 students get admitted. However, for admission to the M.S. and Ph. D. programs, candidates are required to appear in interviews and/or written tests.

There are 26 seats for foreign students at the undergraduate level. The pre-requisite qualification for admission is H.S.C. or GCE A-level or its equivalent with high grades in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. The admission fee is $200; the course registration fee is US$50 per credit hour and the approximate cost of food, lodging etc. is US$100 per month. A maximum of 10 students from a single country are allowed for admission.

Postgraduate

For admission to the courses leading to a master's degree an applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 out of 5.00 or a first division or equivalent in any one of S.S.C. and H.S.C. or in equivalent examinations and must not have a GPA less than 2.00 out of 5.00 or a third division or equivalent in any of the aforementioned examinations and must have at least 50% marks or a minimum GPA of 2.50 out of 4.00 or its equivalent in B.Sc. Engg./ M.A or M.Sc. or MSS/ B. Arch./ BURP in the relevant branch. For admission to the courses leading to an M.Phil. degree an applicant similar criteria fulfilling relevant courses. For admission to the programs leading to Ph.D. degree,all the above criteria must be mate along with minimum GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00 or equivalent in M.Sc. Engg. / M.Engg. / M.Phil / MURP / M.Arch. / M.Sc. (WRD) degree in the relevant branch.

Post-graduate degrees offered by departments and institutes are M.Sc (Master of Science), M.Sc Engg. (Master of Science in Engineering), M. Engg (Master of Engineering), MURP (Master of Urban and Regional Planning), M.Arch (Master of Architecture), M.Phil (Master of Philosophy) and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy). Postgraduate diplomas (PG. Dip.) are also offered in IT and Water resources development.

A foreign student has to pay US$50 (fifty US dollar) per credit hour as tuition fees. The students of SAARC countries will fall under the category of local students’ tuition fees. A Ph.D student will have to complete 54 credit hours, 48 credit hours for M. Phil students and 36 credit hours for M.Sc./M.Engineering students. No Scholarship is available for the foreign students. Hall of Residence facilities are to stay in single position for the foreign students. The admission procedures of postgraduate programs commence two times in a year (April and October).

Research programs

For consultation and research the expertise at the university, its teachers and the laboratory facilities are available to other organizations of the country. A separate institution – Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC) has been formed to oversee these activities.

Postgraduate research works are now among the primary functions of the university. All the departments carry out their own research programs. The faculties undertake pioneering works in various fields – from renewable energy to GIS. In addition to these, the university undertakes research programs sponsored by outside organizations like United Nations Organizations, Commonwealth Foundation, European Union, University Grants Commission (Bangladesh), World Bank, Asian Development Bank, DfID, JICA etc.

Conferences and Workshops

BUET regularly organizes national and international conferences and workshops in its campus to enhance the research capabilities of its students and faculties. Among the conferences organized by BUET, following are notable.

Halls of residence

There are eight residence halls to provide housing for BUET students. The Shahid Smriti Hall is reserved for young teachers who do not have an official quarter in the campus and for the male graduate students. The Chatri Hall is for female students, and the remaining six halls are for male students studying at the undergraduate level. These halls were built in different periods of time, and their designs bear the history and architecture of different times.. The administrative head of a residence hall is its provost, usually chosen from the senior teachers of different faculties. 3 Assistant Provosts are also appointed in the hall administration. Most of the halls are named after several eminent figures in the history of Bangladesh. These are listed below:

Students who do not stay at halls of residence are facilitated by university's own commuter buses which cover major routes of Dhaka city.

Sports facilities

BUET has a large playground at the eastern periphery of main academic campus. It is used as venue of annual athletics competition of the university as well as cricket, football, hockey competitions. Students can access the facility all year round. Besides, visiting foreign national football teams as well as few top football clubs of Bangladesh sometimes use this ground for practice sessions. BUET has tennis court in the main academic area. It also has a gymnasium near halls of residence where students can do gymnastics and play basketball during leisure.

Student organizations

Awards and achievements

Notable alumni

A large number of BUET alumni are working in the industry and academia both in Bangladesh and outside Bangladesh.