Engr. Aminul Karim Siddiquee
Executive Director
Amin Muhammad Lands Development Limited

First of all, a lot of thanks to you and The Guardian Authorities for giving me a chance to talk about my Alma Meter, the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET).

Former Chittagong Engineering College, later BIT Chittagong, one of the highly reputed engineering institutions presently becomes Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). It is one of the prestigious autonomous self-degree awarding universities of Bangladesh in the field of engineering and technology education.

From my point of view I think it’s really a great success of the government to convert it into a university and help to be well-known institutions worldwide. As resident of Chittagong division I feel proud to have an Engineering University in this region.

But the students of CUET failed to get the true feelings of the university due to some lacking in the CUET authority. The fund which is being sanctioned by the government for the university is not ample for the development. Moreover, there should be arrangement of more technical and scientific international training programmes for the teachers and the students for several times in a year. There also should be arranged industrial attachment for the students in government and global organization to be skilled. The government should finance broadly to encourage research activities of the CUET.

Let me throw some light on the present scenario of the CUET. More than thousands of Engineers have been completed their graduation from this great institution and engaged themselves at home and aboard with high reputation. The number of departments isn’t increased expectedly. Lab facilities aren’t improved. As engineering education is different from others, there should be proper relation between theoretical and practical knowledge. The CUET authorities can’t afford it properly I think. Moreover, the course system should be modified to keep pace with ongoing needs of the age.

It’s a praise-worthy matter that the university is free from session-jam. The authorities strictly maintain it. But the university was closed for several times for the last few years for loggerhead between students’ clashes, which we saw through the national dailies. So it should be serious about it for greater welfare of the university.

It is also to be added that still now the university has no own power plant. So, electric power supply has allegedly put adverse impact to the regular study and the research works.

The activities of the two Research Centres of the CUET are limited. It should be extended properly so that the country may be benefited by the outcome of CUET Research Centres. Due to its site of geographical location, CUET can be free from any socio-political and environmental hazards. So, it has sufficient potentials to enhance engineering and technology education in Bangladesh. For this, it needs to have proper cooperation from the government.

Lastly, I request to the media to come forward to focus on the problems and potentials of CUET and help the university to draw the attention of the government to take the necessary steps for the progress of CUET.