Four Engineering Universities Trace Their Origins to September 1, 2003

September 1 marks the anniversary of four of Bangladesh’s public engineering and technology universities: Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) and Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET).

The four institutions received approval as separate universities through individual laws passed on September 1, 2003. The universities are observing the day with separate programmes, including rallies, discussions and seminars involving teachers, students, officials, employees and alumni.

From BIT to four universities

The four institutions were formerly branches of the Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), an autonomous government engineering university established on July 1, 1986, under the Bangladesh Institutes of Technology Ordinance, 1986 (Ordinance No. XXI of 1986).

BIT was formed with four engineering colleges: BIT Chittagong, BIT Rajshahi, BIT Khulna and BIT Dhaka in Gazipur. According to the report, limitations in the BIT Ordinance prompted the government to transform the four institutions into separate full-fledged universities in 2003.

RUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr SM Abdur Razzaq said the institution has entered its 62nd year of its “glorious journey” and expressed gratitude to everyone who has contributed to its education, research and development.

He particularly acknowledged former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, during whose tenure RUET was transformed into a full-fledged university. He also expressed hope that government initiatives to allocate 2 percent of GDP to research would be increased next year and that the University Grants Commission would continue supporting research and innovation at RUET and other universities.

CUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem said he wants to improve the university’s ranking to at least an Asian level and ensure world-class education and research. He said the university was receiving cooperation and support from the current government and others in its initiatives.

RUET

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology began in December 1964 as Rajshahi Engineering College, the second engineering institution in what was then East Pakistan. It initially operated under the Faculty of Engineering of Rajshahi University with 122 students.

In 1986, the four engineering colleges were brought under the Bangladesh Institute of Technology structure. BIT Rajshahi was subsequently upgraded to a full-fledged university through an Act of Parliament on September 1, 2003, and became Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology.

DUET

Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology began its journey in 1980 in Tejgaon, Dhaka, as the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Dhaka. The institution was renamed Dhaka Engineering College in 1981.

In 1986, it became Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Dhaka. After operating under the BIT structure until 2003, it was upgraded to a full-fledged university through an Act of Parliament on September 1 that year and became Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur.

According to DUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Engineer Mohammad Iqbal, the institution was established as the College of Engineering, Dhaka, in 1980 under an initiative of President Ziaur Rahman to open opportunities for higher education for diploma engineers.

He said the institution was later transformed into Dhaka Engineering College in 1981 and an autonomous Bangladesh Institute of Technology in 1986. Following years of demands and movements by teachers, students and diploma engineers, the institution was finally transformed into DUET through legislation in 2003.

CUET

CUET began its academic activities in 1968 as Chittagong Engineering College. In 1986, it was converted into Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Chittagong.

On September 1, 2003, the institution formally began its journey as Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology. Since then, CUET has expanded its role in education, research and innovation and emerged as one of the country's leading engineering and technology institutions.

KUET

Khulna University of Engineering and Technology began in 1967 as Khulna Engineering College under the Faculty of Engineering of Rajshahi University. The institution resumed operations in a new form on June 3, 1974, under a government initiative.

In 1984, it was converted into an autonomous institution named Bangladesh Institute of Technology, Khulna, with the aim of expanding academic activities and research opportunities.

As demand for engineering and technology education and the scope of research grew, initiatives were taken to transform the institution into a full-fledged university. On September 1, 2003, BIT Khulna was upgraded and renamed Khulna University of Engineering and Technology.