The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ প্রকৌশল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) commonly known by its acronym BUET, is a publictechnologicalresearch university in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Founded in 1876 as the Dacca Survey School and gained university status in 1962, it is the oldest institution for the study of engineering, architecture, and urban planning in the country.
BUET is considered to be the most prestigious university in Bangladesh for science and research. A large number of BUET alumni are active in notable engineering and non-engineering roles in Bangladesh and abroad.
History
Dacca Survey School was established in 1876 at Nalgola, west of the current Sir Salimullah Medical College campus, in Old Dhaka by the government of Bengal under British Raj. It offered two-year engineering and survey courses toward the Sub-Overseer's examination, which certified land surveyors.
According to a report on public instruction in Bengal, on 31 March 1903, Dhaka Survey School had 117 students of which 103 were Hindus and 14 were Muslims. In 1908, the school started to offer diploma degrees. Nawab Sir Khwaja Ahsanullah Bahadur, a philanthropist and Nawab of Dhaka, endowed donations for developing the survey school. After his death in 1901, his son, the then Nawab of Dhaka, Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur released the grant in 1902 in accordance with his late fathers wish. As an acknowledgement of this contribution, the school was renamed to Ahsanullah School of Engineering in 1908.
The school offered three-year diploma courses in civil engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering in 1908. In 1912, the university was moved to its present premises. In 1938, A. K. Fazlul Huq, the then Prime Minister of Bengal, appointed Hakim Ali as the principal of the school.
In 1948, the government of East Bengal 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).
In 2002, a first year student in the chemical engineering department, Sabekun Nahar Sony, was killed during a factional clash between two feuding groups of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at BUET. The two factions exchanged gunfire and she was caught in the line of fire.
In 2007, BUET celebrated 60 years (1947–2007) of engineering education in Bangladesh by arranging a 6-month-long series of programs and events.
In October 2019, sophomore Abrar Fahad was tortured and beaten to death in Sher-e-Bangla Hall, allegedly by members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League party. The Independent reported that beatings and torture by the BCL were common in the dormitories. Fahad's murder sparked nearly two months of student protests against violent ragging and bullying at the residence halls. The protests ended after university authorities met student demands. They expelled for life 25 students allegedly involved in the killing, expelled a further 15 from their places in Ahsan Ullah Hall, Suhrawardy Hall, and Titumir Hall, handed down various suspensions and warnings, and adopted new penalties for ragging and political activities.
On 21 June 2021, BUET and Saitama University, Japan signed second renewal of the agreement on academic exchange and the memorandum on student exchange between the two institutions. Saitama University (SU) and BUET have had a long-standing relationship for the past 20 years.
BUET has an urban campus located in the Palashi area of Dhaka. The campus houses academic and administrative buildings, residential halls for students and other amenities.
Faculties and departments
Academic activities are undertaken by 18 departments under six faculties. Thirteen departments offer undergraduate courses, all of which, except the department of humanities, offer postgraduate courses as well.
West wing of the Civil Engineering BuildingMechanical Engineering BuildingEntry approach of the Department of Architecture, BUETAerial view of the plinth level of the Architecture Building
BUET has been ranked #801-850 in the world, #187 in Asia and #2 in Bangladesh by QS World University Rankings in 2024.
Library
BUET central library has a collection of 142,913 items of information materials. Among the materials, 125,066 and 17,847 are books and bound periodicals respectively. Besides, 152 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. 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, 2011 and 2019.
Administration
Registrar Building established in 1930Old Academic Building
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.
Academic Council
Finance Committee
Faculties
Selection Boards
Committee for Advanced Studies and Research (CASR)
Planning and Development Committee
Boards of Postgraduate Studies (BPGS)
Boards of Undergraduate Studies (BUGS)
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 the 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.
The undergraduate admission of BUET is based on grades and examinations. Extracurriculars or financial needs are not considered in the admission process.
The undergraduate admission test is a fairly competitive written examination. After completion of higher secondary level (HSC) 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 and chemistry on their Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examination are allowed to take the admission test. The screening process allows 18,000 students to sit for the preliminary admission test based on the cumulative sum of their GPA in those three subjects.
After the admission test, about 1,309 students get selected on the basis of merit and are offered admission. The admission test is of 400 marks, with 40 questions carrying 10 marks each. 13 questions are from physics, 13 from chemistry and 14 from mathematics. The test is taken within two hours.
There are 26 seats for foreign students at the undergraduate level. The pre-requisite qualification for admission is HSC 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.
Playground of BUET
Department
No. of Student
Chemical Engineering
120
Materials & Metallurgical Engineering
60
Nanomaterials & Ceramic Engineering
30
Civil Engineering
195
Water Resources Engineering
30
Mechanical Engineering
180
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
55
Industrial & Production Engineering
120
Electrical & Electronic Engineering
195
Computer Science & Engineering
180
Biomedical Engineering
50
Architecture
60
Urban Planning & Regional Planning
30
Total
1305
Postgraduate
In master's and PhD programs, around 1,000 graduate students are accepted on an annual basis. For admission to these programs, candidates are required to appear in interviews and/or written tests.
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.
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:
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering (ICME)
International Conference on Water and Flood Management (ICWFM)
Bangladesh Civil Engineering Summit
International Earthquake Symposium, Bangladesh
International Conference on Disaster Risk Management (ICDRM)
International Conference on Chemical Engineering (ICChE)
International Conference on Climate Change Impacts and Adaption Strategies
Bangladesh Geotechnical Conference
International Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (ICECE)
International Symposium and Workshop on Sustainable Transport for Developing Countries (STDC)
International Conference on Marine Technology (MARTEC)
International Workshop on Algorithms and Computation (WALCOM)
International Conference on Networking Systems and Security (NSysS)
Clubs and organizations
Source:
Student organization
According to Ordinance 1962, all organizational politics have been banned in Bangladesh Engineering University. After a university student, Abrar Fahad was beaten to death by the BUET Chhatra League, the vice-chancellor of the university, Saiful Islam, banned all kinds of student politics and political organizations and their activities in the campus.
According to the university ordinance, teacher politics has also been banned on the campus.
Student life
Halls of residence
Sabekunnahar Sony Memorial Sculpture, beside Titumir HallTitumir Hall, one of the eight dormitories of the university
There are nine residence halls for BUET students. Most are named after eminent figures in the history of Bangladesh:
Sabekun Nahar Sony Hall, Formerly Chattri Hall (Named after Sabekun Nahar Sony, who died being caught between gunfighting between political groups in BUET at 2002)
The administrative head of a residence hall is its provost, usually chosen from the senior teachers of different faculties. Three Assistant Provosts are also appointed in the hall administration.
Students who do not stay at halls of residence are facilitated by the 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, and 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. The playground is also used as venue of alumni reunions. 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.
Awards and achievements
CSE, BUET students have achieved extraordinary feat since its participation at 1998 Atlanta ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest. BUET was the first University from Bangladesh as well as South Asia along with the North South University, Bangladesh to participate in World Finals of such an Prestigious Programming Competition. Best Ranking in ACM ICPC World Finals was 11.
Following is the position of BUET in ICPC world finals over the years:
Year
Rank
Question solved
2021
24 (AWC)
07
2019
62
04
2018
56
04
2017
HM
-
2016
NQ
-
2015
NQ
-
2014
19
03
2013
60
03
2012
HM
-
2011
HM
-
2010
36
04
2009
34
04
2008
31
04
2007
HM
-
2006
39
02
2005
29
04
2004
NQ
-
2003
HM
-
2002
HM
-
2001
29
03
2000
11
06
1999
HM
-
1998
24
03
*AWC = Asia-West Champion; HM = Unranked but Honourable Mention; NQ = Not Qualified
Teams from BUET became first and third around the globe in the inaugural International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing in the 2014 IEEE Signal Processing Cup (SP Cup) at the ICASSP in 2014, and second and fifth place in IEEE SP Cup 2015 and again followed by the Grand Prize (1st place) in IEEE SP Cup 2016. Recently, teams from the EEE department are also participating in the IEEE Video and Image Processing Cup (IEEE VIP Cup) since 2017. In 2017 BUET achieved 1st and 3rd place in IEEE VIP cup among more than 200 teams around the world.
BUET teams participated in the IEEE Myron Zucker Student Design Contest in 2001, placed first, Chicago, United States.
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