Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in Dhaka is one of the oldest institutions for higher studies in Bangladesh. Its history dates back to the days of Dhaka Survey School established at Nalgola in 1876 . The Survey School subsequently became the Ahsanullah School of Engineering offering three-year diplomas in Civil, Electrical and Technical Engineering. In 1948, the School was upgraded at its present premises as the Ahsanullah Engineering College and, as the Faculty of Engineering under the University of Dhaka. It was then offering four-year undergraduate programmes in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering. The college was set up to meet the increasing demand for engineers and to advance engineering education in the newly constituted country of Pakistan. In 1962, in order to facilitate postgraduate studies and research, and with the addition of a new faculty, that of Architecture, the Ahsanullah Engineering College was alleviated to the status of a university of engineering and technology. Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, it became the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

DEPARTMENTAL PROFILE

Undergraduate students	380
Postgraduate students	25
Academic staff	31
Technical & secretarial staff	9

The process of industrialization and urbanization in the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the 1905s led to hectic development which suffered from lack of technological support. In view of the challenging situation, the Department of Architecture was established alongside the existing engineering education. The founding of the Department in 1961 helped in the transformation of the then Ahsanullah Engineering College to a full-fledged University. From its inception till 1990, the Department was the only institution of its kind imparting architectural education in the country.

Despite the support of the Texas A&M University, the Department had a humble beginning with only one expatriate teacher, Professor Richard E. Vrooman, and six students. By the year 1965 there were four American teachers and 68 students at five levels.

The year 1966 is a landmark in the history of Architectural education in this country. It was the year when the first five students graduated in Architecture after the completion of a 5-year programme. In the same year six Bangalees, on obtaining their degrees in architecture from the USA returned to bolster the teaching staff. In 1968 all the expatriates left, entrusting the programme entirely with the local staff.

Tragedy hit the programme with the death of Professor Ahsanur Rahman on June 27, 1967. Professor Rahman was a dedicated teacher of outstanding merit. In fond memory of the late professor, the Ahsanur Rahman Award was instituted in 1968 to support postgraduate studies at the time. The award has since then been presented to students who achieve a high level of design and scholastic excellence.

With the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 the building industry gained a new lease of life. The pressure of students intending to study architecture increased continually. Initially, the yearly intake of students at the first year level was 25. In 1977, the number was raised to 35 and again to 50 in 1980. Since 1995-96 enrolment is 55 per batch.

Consequently the number of teachers has also increased. At present, the Department has a total of 31 teachers, 24 of whom have post-graduate degrees with specializations in Housing, Environment, Architectural Acoustics, Urban Design, Health Facilities, Educational Facilities and Industrial Buildings. In 1979, as the demand for higher education increased, a programme offering the Master of Architecture degree was introduced. From 1993-94 the department is offering PhD programme.

In 1986, the Department celebrated its Silver Jubilee.

Since 1966, degrees awarded to

Bachelor of Architecture	965 students
Master of Architecture	14 students

Students of the department have excelled in national and international design competitions. Student entries in 'Mimar' Design Competitions IV, V and VI were awarded as Winners, Highly Commended and Commended. In 1989, entries secured Honourable Mentions in the Students Jamboree of Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA). In 1994, the Department's entry to the CAA won the First Prize.

The Department of Architecture is committed to advance architectural education through different programmes and researches. The department continuously endeavors to instil in the students a firm intellectual and professional base. The course curricula are designed to bring out the best in students aspiring to enter the profession. In the past, distinguished architects and professionals of the stature of Fazlur R. Khan, Louis I. Kahn, Paul Rudolph, Stanley Tigermann, Aptullah Kuran, Helmut Borcherdt, Kenneth Young, Charles Correa and B.V. Doshi have presented lectures in the Department. Views on architecture, practice and education are constantly exchanged with architects from home and abroad as well as with related professionals.