Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology facts for kids

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Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

বাংলাদেশ প্রকৌশল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
Crest of BUET
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)
Type	Public, Research
Established	1876; 149 years ago (1876) as School 1948; 77 years ago (1948) as college 1962; 63 years ago (1962) as University
Accreditation	IEB IAB ACU Bangladesh Institute of Planners
Affiliation	University Grants Commission (UGC)
Endowment	৳1.024 billion (2015–16) ($13 million)
Chancellor	President Mohammed Shahabuddin
Vice-Chancellor	Satya Prasad Majumder
Academic staff	579 (February 2020)
Administrative staff	1,338 (February 2020)
Students	9,234 (February 2020)
Undergraduates	5,636 (February 2020)
Postgraduates	3,598 (February 2020)
Location	Dhaka , 1000 , Bangladesh 23°43′36″N 90°23′33″E / 23.72667°N 90.39250°E / 23.72667; 90.39250
Campus	Urban, 91.37 acres (36.98 ha)
Language	English
Colors	Red

The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, often called BUET, is a top public research university in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It's known for its focus on technology. BUET started in 1876 as the Dacca Survey School. It became a full university in 1962. It is the oldest place in Bangladesh for studying engineering, architecture, and urban planning.

Many people think BUET is the best university in Bangladesh for science and research. Lots of former BUET students work in important engineering and other jobs, both in Bangladesh and around the world.

History of BUET: A Journey Through Time

Nawab Bahadur Sir Khwaja Salimullah helped the school in 1902. Because of this, it was renamed Ahsanullah School of Engineering in 1908.

Early Beginnings: Dacca Survey School (1876)

The Dacca Survey School opened in 1876 in Old Dhaka. It was started by the government of Bengal when the British ruled. The school taught two-year courses to train land surveyors.

In 1903, the school had 117 students. Most of them were Hindu, and a few were Muslim. By 1908, the school began offering diploma degrees.

Becoming Ahsanullah School of Engineering (1908)

Nawab Sir Khwaja Ahsanullah Bahadur, a kind and generous leader, gave money to help the survey school grow. After he passed away in 1901, his son, Sir Khwaja Salimullah Bahadur, continued his father's support in 1902. To honor this help, the school was renamed Ahsanullah School of Engineering in 1908.

The school started offering three-year diploma courses in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. In 1912, the school moved to its current location.

Upgrading to Ahsanullah Engineering College (1947)

After India was divided in 1947, the school was upgraded. It became Ahsanullah Engineering College. It joined the University of Dhaka as its engineering department. The college then offered four-year bachelor's degrees. These included civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and metallurgical engineering.

In 1948, the government officially recognized the college. In 1954, M. A. Rashid became the first Bengali principal. In 1956, the college started using a new course plan and the semester system.

Becoming a University: EPUET and BUET (1962-1971)

On June 1, 1962, the college was upgraded again. It became the East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET). This made it the fourth university in East Pakistan. Rashid was chosen as the first vice-chancellor.

EPUET worked with Texas A&M University. Professors from Texas A&M came to teach and help create the study programs. EPUET offered courses in mechanical, electrical, civil, metallurgical, chemical engineering, and architecture.

After Bangladesh became independent in 1971, EPUET was renamed Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

Recent Events and Developments

In 2007, BUET celebrated 60 years of engineering education. They held many events over six months.

In 2019, there were student protests at BUET. This happened after a student was harmed in a dormitory. The university took action to stop such incidents. They expelled some students and made new rules against bullying and political activities on campus.

In 2021, BUET teamed up with Huawei, a big technology company. They created the first ICT Academy in Bangladesh on the BUET campus. Also in 2021, BUET renewed its agreement with Saitama University, Japan. They have worked together for over 20 years.

In January 2022, BUET was ranked as the top university in Bangladesh. This was by the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.

Academics at BUET

Campus Life and Location

BUET Skyline

BUET has a city campus in the Palashi area of Dhaka. The campus has buildings for classes and offices. It also has places for students to live and other useful facilities.

Departments and What They Teach

BUET has 18 departments spread across six main areas called faculties. Thirteen departments offer courses for undergraduate students (first degrees). Most of these also offer courses for postgraduate students (master's and PhD degrees).

West wing of the Civil Engineering Building

Mechanical Engineering Building

Entry approach of the Department of Architecture, BUET

Aerial view of the plinth level of the Architecture Building

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

Special Institutes for Advanced Study

BUET has six special institutes. These institutes offer advanced 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)

Research Centers and Their Work

BUET has several centers focused on research.

• 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)

How BUET Ranks Globally

BUET is highly ranked among universities. In 2024, it was ranked #801-850 in the world. It was also #187 in Asia and #2 in Bangladesh by QS World University Rankings.

The BUET Library

The main library at BUET has over 142,000 items. This includes books and journals. About 1,500 new books are added every year. The main reading room can hold 200 students. It provides access to rare books and textbooks. Each department and student hall also has its own library.

Graduation Ceremonies (Convocations)

After Bangladesh became independent, BUET held its first graduation ceremony in 1973. Since then, ceremonies have been held regularly. The most recent one was in 2019.

How BUET is Managed

Registrar Building established in 1930

Old Academic Building

The Chancellor is the official head of the university. This role is held by the current president of Bangladesh. The Chancellor appoints the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor is the main leader of the university. This position is always held by a senior professor from BUET.

The university is run by the University Syndicate. The Vice-Chancellor leads this group. The syndicate includes leaders from different faculties and education departments. Each faculty has a dean, and each department has a head. These are usually full professors.

Other important roles include the registrar, comptroller, and controller of exams. These people help manage the university's daily operations.

Admission to BUET

Undergraduate Admission Process

Electrical and Computer Engineering Building

Getting into BUET for undergraduate studies is very competitive. It is based on grades and a tough entrance exam. Other things like extracurricular activities are not considered.

To apply, students need good grades in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. These grades are from their higher secondary level (HSC) exams. About 18,000 students with the best grades are chosen to take a preliminary admission test.

After the test, about 1,309 students are selected based on their scores. The admission test is worth 400 marks. It has 40 questions, each worth 10 marks. There are 13 questions from physics, 13 from chemistry, and 14 from mathematics. Students have two hours to complete the test.

BUET also has 26 seats for international students. They need high grades in math, physics, and chemistry from their equivalent high school exams. The admission fee is $200. Course fees are $50 per credit hour. Living costs are about $100 per month. A maximum of 10 students from any one country can be admitted.

Playground of BUET

Postgraduate Admission Process

Around 1,000 graduate students are accepted each year for master's and PhD programs. To get in, candidates usually have interviews or written tests.

BUET offers various postgraduate degrees. These include Master of Science (MSc), Master of Science in Engineering (MSc Engg.), Master of Engineering (M. Engg), Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP), Master of Architecture (MArch), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). They also offer postgraduate diplomas in IT and Water resources development.

Research Programs and Innovation

BUET helps other organizations in Bangladesh with research and advice. They use their expert teachers and lab facilities. The Bureau of Research, Testing and Consultation (BRTC) handles these activities.

The university also works on research projects funded by international groups. These include the United Nations, Commonwealth Foundation, European Union, and World Bank.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BUET created OxyJet. This is a low-cost CPAP ventilator. It was approved for use in July 2021.

Conferences and Workshops

BUET often hosts national and international conferences and workshops. These events help students and teachers improve their research skills. Some notable conferences include:

• 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)

Student Life at BUET

Student Housing (Halls of Residence)

Sabekunnahar Sony Memorial Sculpture, beside Titumir Hall

Titumir Hall, one of the eight dormitories of the university

BUET has nine residence halls for its students. Most are named after important people in Bangladesh's history:

• Ahsanullah Hall (named after Nawab of Dhaka, Nawab Bahadur Sir Khwaja Ahsanullah)
• Titumir Hall (named after Bengali Muslim revolutionary Syed Mir Nisar Ali Titumir)
• Sabekun Nahar Sony Hall (named after Sabekun Nahar Sony, a student)
• Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib Hall (named after Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib, wife of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman)
• Dr. M. A. Rashid Hall (named after M. A. Rashid, the first vice-chancellor)
• Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall (named after the National Poet of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul Islam)
• Sher-e-Bangla Hall (named after the 1st Prime Minister of Bengal- Sher-e-Bangla A. K. Fazlul Huq)
• Suhrawardy Hall (named after Bengali-nationalist leader Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy)
• Shahid Smrity Hall (named in memory of heroes of the Bangladesh Liberation War)

Each hall is led by a provost, usually a senior teacher. Students who live off-campus can use the university's bus service. These buses cover major routes in Dhaka city.

Sports and Recreation

BUET has a large playground on the east side of the campus. It's used for the university's annual athletics competition. Students also play cricket, football, and hockey there. The playground is open to students all year. Sometimes, professional football teams use it for practice. It's also a place for alumni gatherings.

BUET has a tennis court in the main academic area. There's also a gymnasium near the student halls. Students can do gymnastics and play basketball there.

Awards and Achievements

BUET students have won many awards and achieved great things.

• The Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department at BUET has done very well in the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest. BUET was one of the first universities from Bangladesh and South Asia to reach the World Finals in 1998. Their best rank was 11th in the world.

• AWC = Asia-West Champion ; HM = Unranked but Honourable Mention ; NQ = Not Qualified
• Teams from BUET won first and third place in the 2014 IEEE Signal Processing Cup (SP Cup). They also won second and fifth place in 2015, and the Grand Prize (1st place) in 2016.
• In 2017, BUET teams achieved 1st and 3rd place in the IEEE Video and Image Processing Cup (VIP Cup).
• BUET teams won first place in the IEEE Myron Zucker Student Design Contest in 2001 in Chicago, USA.
• A BUET graduate was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2016.
• BUET teams won the Panasonic Award at the Asia-Pacific Robot Contest ABU ROBOCON 2005 in Beijing.
• A BUET student won the 2006 IEEE Region 10 Student Paper Contest.
• BUET won the Student Enterprise Award in 2007 from IEEE.
• BUET won the IEEE Vibrant Student Branch Award in 2008.
• A team from BUET became category champion in the NASA apps contest in 2020.
• BUET's Mars Rover Team won the Innovation Award in the International Planetary Aerial System Challenge (IPAS) 2021.

Notable Alumni

See also

• List of dental schools in Bangladesh
• List of medical colleges in Bangladesh
• List of universities in Bangladesh
• University of Dhaka
• Khulna University of Engineering & Technology
• Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology
• Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology
• Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology