Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
বাংলাদেশ প্রকৌশল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
Other name
BUET
Former name
List
Dacca Survey School (1876–1908) Ahsanullah School of Engineering (1908–1947) Ahsanullah Engineering College,University of Dacca (1947–1962) East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET) (1962–1971)
TheBangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ প্রকৌশল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়), commonly known by its acronymBUET, was formerly called theEast Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET). It is apublicresearch university located in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Founded in 1876 as theDacca Survey School and gaining university status in 1962, it is the oldest institution for the study of engineering, architecture, andurban planning in the country. BUET is one of the top EngineeringPhD grantingresearch universities of Bangladesh along withRUET,CUET,KUET,DUET.[8][9]A large number ofBUET alumni are active in notable engineering and non-engineering roles in Bangladesh and abroad.[10][11]
Nawab Bahadur SirKhwaja Salimullah released a grant in 1902 in accordance with the wish of his late father and as an acknowledgement of this contribution, the survey school was renamed to Ahsanullah School of Engineering in 1908.
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.[13] In 1908, the school started to offer three year diploma courses.[14] Nawab SirKhwaja Ahsanullah, a philanthropist andNawab of Dhaka, endowed donations for developing the survey school. After his death in 1901, his son, the then Nawab of Dhaka, SirKhwaja Salimullah released the grant in 1902 in accordance with his late father's wish.[15] As an acknowledgement of this contribution, the school was renamed toAhsanullah School of Engineering in 1908.[citation needed]
The school offered three-yeardiploma courses in civil engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering in 1908. In 1912, the university was moved to its present premises.[16] In 1938,A. K. Fazlul Huq, the thenPrime Minister of Bengal, appointed Hakim Ali as the principal of the school.[14]
In 1948, thegovernment of East Bengal granted recognition to the engineering college. Ali became the first principal of the college.[14] In 1951, TH Mathewman was appointed the next principal.M. A. Rashid succeeded him in 1954 as the first Bengali principal of the college[17] and held the post until 1960.[18] In 1956, a new course curriculum and thesemester system were introduced at the college.[14]
In 1961, The Engineering and Technological University Ordinance, 1961 (East Pakistan Ordinance)(Ordinance NO. XXXVI OF 1961) was passed to establish a university in Dacca, East Pakistan.On 1 June 1962, in order to create facilities for postgraduate studies and research, the college was upgraded toEast Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET), becoming the fourth university of the thenEast Pakistan.[14] Rashid was appointed the first vice-chancellor of the university.
A partnership with the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (renamedTexas 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 theliberation war of 1971, and Bangladesh's independence, EPUET was renamed toBangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).[16]
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 theJatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at BUET. The two factions exchanged gunfire and she was caught in the line of fire.[19]
In 2007, BUET celebrated 60 years (1947–2007) of engineering education in Bangladesh by arranging a 6-month-long series of programs and events.[20]
In October 2019, sophomoreAbrar Fahad wastortured and beaten to death in Sher-e-Bangla Hall, by members of theBangladesh Chhatra League (BSL) the student wing of the then rulingAwami League party. The BSL was banned in 2024.[21][22]The Independent reported that beatings and torture by the BCL were common in the dormitories.[21] Fahad's murder sparked nearly two months of student protests against violentragging and bullying at the residence halls.[22][23] The protests ended after university authorities met student demands. They expelled for life 25 students allegedly involved in the killing,[24] 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.[22][25][26]
On 21 June 2021, BUET andSaitama 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.[28][29]
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.[31]
Academic activities are undertaken by 18 departments under sixfaculties.[32][33] Thirteen departments offerundergraduate courses, all of which, except the department of humanities, offerpostgraduate courses as well.[32][33]
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 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.[49] Besides, 152 titles are in the current subscription list of journals.[8] Every year, 1500 volumes are added to this library.[49] 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.
In February 08, 2025, the name of the central library was changed as 'Shahid Abrar Fahad Library' in the memory ofAbrar Fahad.[50]
After the independence of Bangladesh and the subsequent name change, the firstconvocation of the university was held in 1973.[51] Since then, convocations have been held in 1976, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2019.[52]
Registrar Building established in 1930Old Academic Building
Thechancellor is the ceremonial head of the university who appoints thevice-chancellor. The position is held by the incumbentpresident of Bangladesh.[53][54] 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.[55]
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.[54] Each of the faculties is headed by adean and each of the departments is chaired by a head of the department.[54]
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.[54] Other major administrative posts include theregistrar, the comptroller and the controller of exams.
The university has also the following Statutory Authorities.[54]
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.[54]
The undergraduate admission of BUET is based on grades and examinations. Extracurriculars or financial needs are not considered in the admission process.[58]
The undergraduate admission test is a fairly competitive written examination. After completion ofhigher secondary level (HSC) education, a student can submit his/her application for undergraduate admission if he/she fulfills the minimum requirements.[58]
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.[58][59][60]
After the admission test, about 1,309 students get selected on the basis of merit and are offered admission.[61] 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.[62] The pre-requisite qualification for admission is HSC or GCEA-level or its equivalent with high grades in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The admission fee is $200; the course registration fee is US$50 percredit hour and the approximate cost of food, lodging etc. is US$100 per month.[62] A maximum of 10 students from a single country are allowed for admission.[63]
Inmaster'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.[64][65]
BUET regularly organizes national and internationalconferences and workshops in its campus to enhance the research capabilities of its students and faculties.[69] 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)
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 BUETChhatra 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.[70]
Sabekun Nahar Sony Hall, Formerly Chattri Hall (Named afterSabekun Nahar Sony, who died being caught between gunfighting between political groups in BUET at 2002)[74]
Shadhinata Hall (Previously:Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Hall)[75]
Dr. M. A. Rashid Hall(named afterM. A. Rashid, the first vice-chancellor of the university)
Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall(named after the National Poet of BangladeshKazi Nazrul Islam)
The administrative head of a residence hall is itsprovost, usually chosen from the senior teachers of different faculties. Three Assistant Provosts are also appointed in the hall administration.[73]
Students who do not stay at halls of residence are facilitated by the university's own commuter buses which cover major routes ofDhaka city.[76][77]
BUET has a large playground at the eastern periphery of main academic campus. It is used as venue of annualathletics competition of the university as well ascricket,football, andhockey competitions.[78] 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.[79] 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.
CSE, BUET students have achieved extraordinary feat since its participation at 1998 Atlanta[80]ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest. BUET was the first University from Bangladesh as well as South Asia along with theNorth South University, Bangladesh to participate in World Finals of such an Prestigious Programming Competition. Best Ranking in ACM ICPC World Finals was 11.[80]
Following is the position of BUET in ICPC world finals over the years:
*AWC = Asia-West Champion; HM = Unranked but Honourable Mention; NQ = Not Qualified
Teams from BUET became first and third around the globe in the inauguralInternational Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing in the 2014IEEE Signal Processing Cup (SP Cup) at theICASSP in 2014,[82] and second and fifth place in IEEE SP Cup 2015[83] and again followed by the Grand Prize (1st place) in IEEE SP Cup 2016.[84] 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.[85]
BUET teams participated in the IEEE Myron Zucker Student Design Contest in 2001, placed first, Chicago, United States.[86]
Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Civil engineer, academic, former adviser in caretaker government, and vice chancellor
A. K. M. Fazle Hussain, Mechanical engineer and fluid dynamics expert, longtime professor in the U.S.; recognized for contributions in turbulence, vortex dynamics
Syed Mainul Hossain, Structural engineer/architect, known for designing the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Bangladesh
Marina Tabassum, Architect, known for contemporary architecture in Bangladesh
Hasanul Haq Inu, Politician and former Information Minister of Bangladesh
G. M. Quader, Politician and public servant, former minister and leader of Jatiya Party
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