History

History

A Brief Chronicle of BUET‑EEE

Below you’ll find an expandable timeline charting the Department’s journey from its post‑war origins to the present day. Tap or click a heading to reveal more.

Founding and Early Years (1940s – 1950s)

The roots of electrical‑engineering education at BUET stretch back to the late 1940s. In 1947 the colonial‑era Ahsanullah Engineering School was upgraded to Ahsanullah Engineering College, a constituent college of Dhaka University, offering four‑year bachelor’s degrees in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.^[1] Prof. Waquar Ahmed was appointed the first head of Electrical Engineering in 1949, formalising the department’s independent identity.^[2] During the 1950s the college doubled its intake, introduced a semester system (1956), and phased out its older diploma streams (1958).^[3] These reforms allowed Electrical Engineering students to study power‑station practice, electrical machinery and the emerging discipline of electronics, laying the groundwork for modernisation.

University Status & 1960s Milestones

On 1 June 1962 Ahsanullah Engineering College was elevated to East Pakistan University of Engineering and Technology (EPUET).^[4] This empowered the Electrical Engineering department to begin postgraduate instruction and research. International faculty (notably a Texas A\&M advisory team) helped overhaul syllabi, adding semiconductor electronics and telecommunications. Prof. N. M. Azam (Head 1962‑1970) oversaw new laboratories and a rising research emphasis. The Liberation War of 1971 briefly disrupted teaching; faculty member Prof. Nurul Ula famously filmed the documented evidance of the events at Jagannath Hall in 25 March 1971.^[5] After independence the institution was re‑christened Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), and Electrical Engineering resumed classes under the new national banner.

Evolution into “EEE” (1970s – 1980s)

By the mid‑1970s electronics and computing had become integral, and the unit was retitled Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE).^[6] In 1978 BUET reorganised academically: EEE became the anchor of the new Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. A separate Department of Computer Science & Engineering spun off in 1984, allowing EEE to concentrate on power, electronics and communications. The department’s landmark Electrical‑Mechanical Engineering (EME) Building opened in 1984, giving EEE its first dedicated multi‑storey home.^[7] Curriculum updates introduced microprocessors, solid‑state devices and elective streams, while enrolment rose steadily.

Research, Impact & Modern Curriculum (1990s – Present)

From the 1990s onward, EEE expanded MSc and PhD programmes and secured funding for research in power systems, VLSI, renewable energy and ICT. Faculty consulted on national electrification projects and mobile‑network roll‑outs, underscoring real‑world impact.^[8] In 2010 EEE relocated from the EME Building to the newly completed 12‑storey Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Bhaban on the West Palashi campus, providing purpose‑built lecture halls, smart classrooms and additional laboratory space. The undergraduate syllabus has since shifted to a credit‑hour GPA system and now features outcome‑based education, elective baskets in energy, electronics, communications and signal processing, and strong emphasis on sessional-course projects aligned with industry needs. BUET’s engineering ranking (QS 2022) placed it 185th globally, with EEE receiving BUET’s highest subject score.^[9]

Historical Photo Gallery

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References

1. Government of East Bengal Education Department, "Plan for Dhaka Engineering College," Pakistan Gazette, August 1947.

2. BUET Archives, "List of Department Heads, 1949‑2024" (accessed 2025).

3. Ahsanullah Engineering College Prospectus 1956‑57, Dhaka: ACE Press, 1956.

4. Education Commission of Pakistan, Report on the Establishment of EPUET, Karachi: ECP, 1962.

5. Ahsanul Kabir, "Witness to History," The Daily Star, 26 March 2013.

6. BUET Senate Proceedings 1974‑75, Item 12: "Renaming of Departments."

7. BUET Planning & Works Office, Project Completion Report: Electrical‑Mechanical Engineering Building, 1985.

8. BUET Annual Report 2007‑08, Chapter 4: Consultancy & Extension Services.

9. Quacquarelli Symonds, "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022," London: QS, 2022.

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