The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (), commonly known by its acronym BUET, was formerly called the East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET). It is a public research university located in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. Founded in 1876 as the Dacca Survey School and gaining university status in 1962, it is the oldest institution for the study of engineering, architecture, and urban planning in the country. BUET is one of the five PhD granting engineering research universities of Bangladesh along with RUET, CUET, KUET, and DUET.

History

The Dacca Survey School was established in 1876 at Nalgola, west of the present Sir Salimullah Medical College campus in Old Dhaka, by the Government of Bengal during the 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 three year diploma courses. Nawab Sir Khwaja Ahsanullah, 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 released the grant in 1902 in accordance with his late father's 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.

After the partition of India in 1947, Chief Minister of East Bengal Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin approved the school to be 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 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.

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 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 2007, BUET celebrated 60 years (1947–2007) of engineering education in Bangladesh by arranging a 6-month-long series of programs and events. In February 2021, BUET and Chinese multinational technology company Huawei signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the first ICT Academy in Bangladesh on BUET campus.

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.

In January 2022, BUET was ranked 1st among Bangladeshi and 1589th among global educational institutions in the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. Academics

Campus

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.

Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering: Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE) Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (MME) Department of Nanomaterials and Ceramic Engineering (NCE) Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering (PMRE) Faculty of Civil Engineering: Department of Civil Engineering (CE) Department of Water Resources Engineering (WRE) Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) Faculty of Science: Department of Chemistry (Chem) Department of Mathematics (Math) Department of Physics (Phys) Faculty of Mechanical Engineering: Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) Department of Industrial and Production Engineering (IPE) Faculty of Architecture and Planning: Department of Architecture (Arch) Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Department of Humanities (Hum)

Institutes At present, there are eight institutes in BUET. These institutes offer postgraduate diplomas, master's and doctoral degrees. Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM) Institute of Appropriate Technology (IAT) Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT) Accident Research Institute (ARI) BUET-Japan Institute of Disaster Prevention and Urban Safety (BUET-JIDPUS) Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering (INPE) Institute Of Robotics And Automation (IRAB) Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD)

Research centers BUET has several research centres. Centre for Energy Studies (CES) Centre for Environmental and Resource Management (CERM) Biomedical Engineering Centre (BEC) Bureau of Research, Testing & Consultation (BRTC) International Training Network Centre (ITN) Bangladesh Network Office for Urban Safety (BNUS) Applied Bioengineering Research Incubator (ABRI)

Directorates Directorate of Advisory, Extension and Research Services (DAERS) Directorate of Students' Welfare (DSW) Directorate of Planning and Development (P&D) Directorate of Continuing Education (DCE)

Journals and research bulletins Journal of Mechanical Engineering Research and Developments Chemical Engineering Research Bulletin Bangladesh Journal of Water Resources Research Electrical and Electronic Engineering Research Bulletin Protibesh (Research Journal on Architecture)

Rankings 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.

On 8 February 2025, the name of the central library was changed as 'Shahid Abrar Fahad Library' in the memory of Abrar Fahad.

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

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.

List of vice-chancellors Following is the complete list of the vice-chancellors. No. Name Term of office 1 M. A. Rashid 1 June 1962 – 16 March 1970 2 Mohammed Abu Naser 16 March 1970 – 25 April 1975 3 Wahiduddin Ahmed 25 April 1975 – 24 April 1983 4 Abdul Matin Patwari 24 April 1983 – 25 April 1987 5 Musharrof Husain Khan 25 April 1987 – 24 April 1991 6 Muhammad Shahjahan 24 April 1991 – 27 November 1996 7 Iqbal Mahmud 27 November 1996 – 14 October 1998 8 Nooruddin Ahmed 14 October 1998 – 30 August 2002 9 Md. Alee Murtuza 30 August 2002 – 29 August 2006 10 A. M. M. Safiullah 30 August 2006 – 29 August 2010 11 S M Nazrul Islam 30 August 2010 – 13 September 2014 12 Khaleda Ekram 14 September 2014 – 24 May 2016 13 Saiful Islam 22 June 2016 – 25 June 2020 14 Satya Prasad Majumder 25 June 2020 – 18 August 2024 15 A. B. M. Badruzzaman 12 September 2024 – 14 May 202616Eqramul Hoque14 May 2026 - incumbent

Admission

Undergraduate

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 his/her 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.