BUTEX Students Face Hardships Due to Negligible Budget for Thesis and Internship

Students at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) are increasingly dissatisfied with the insufficient budget allocated for thesis and internship programmes, as well as poor time management.

According to students and concerned parties, the current allowance is far too low compared to actual expenses, making it practically impossible to complete internships and theses properly. The disparity becomes clearer when compared to other engineering universities. Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET) provides around Tk 5,000, and Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) provides around Tk 10,000 for thesis and internship combined. In contrast, BUTEX students receive only about Tk 3,000, which is grossly inadequate given current market prices.

Students report that during internships, many have to stay outside Dhaka, incurring costs for accommodation, transportation, and daily expenses. For thesis work, they must bear the cost of raw materials, testing, lab fees, and binding. In many cases, these expenses far exceed the university-provided allowance.

Time management is another major challenge. Although thesis and internship begin in the final semester, the mandatory two-month internship consumes a large portion of the available time. After returning from internship, students have to attend classes and prepare for exams, leaving very little time for quality thesis work. Many believe that starting thesis from the beginning of the fourth year, along with assigning supervisors and groups early, would yield better and more meaningful outcomes.

Md. Shahriar Alam Pavel, a student from the 47th batch of the Fabric Engineering Department, said: “The budget provided by the university is nowhere near enough to complete internship and thesis. During internship, staying outside Dhaka, house rent, and other costs put extra pressure on students. Thesis also requires significant expenses for materials and testing. The current allocation is so low that even industrial attachment and thesis binding costs often exceed it.”

Wasima Tasnim, another student from the Environmental Science and Engineering Department (47th batch), said: “The internship allowance of around Tk 3,000 is given after the internship ends, and sometimes not even the full amount is received. Transportation costs alone consume most of it, and students often have to bear food expenses themselves. As a result, this allowance is practically useless.”

Soumik Saha, another 47th batch student, noted that although discussions are ongoing about increasing the internship allowance, it has not yet been implemented. He said the allowance has remained around Tk 3,000 for a long time, which is inconsistent with current commodity prices. With rising transportation and accommodation costs, it has become difficult for students to manage daily expenses. Without an increase, many students may find it impossible to complete their internships properly.

Registrar Professor Dr. Rasheda Begum Dina said the university administration is aware of the issue and has already contacted the University Grants Commission (UGC). An application has been submitted. Once approval is received from UGC, the budget for internship and thesis will be increased soon.