Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman

Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman is a professor of Civil Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of BUET. The Government of Bangladesh appointed him to this position in 2024 for a four-year term.

 Early life and education 
Dr. Badruzzaman has an extensive academic background in civil and environmental engineering. His education includes:

 Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Environment) from the University of Virginia, USA, in 1992.
 Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Environment) from BUET, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1987.
 Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from BUET, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 1984.

 Research and achievements 
Dr. Badruzzaman has made notable contributions to research in the field of environmental engineering, particularly in groundwater contamination and water treatment. His work has earned him several prestigious awards and recognitions.

 Awards and recognition 
 ITEX Gold Medal 2019: Dr. Badruzzaman received this award from the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) for his invention called "NB-Care: A Universal Platform for Vertical Application." This award was given during the 30th International Technology Invention, Innovation, and Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
 Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Prize for Water 2012: Dr. Badruzzaman, along with Dr. Charles Franklin Harvey from MIT, was awarded this prize for their research on arsenic contamination in groundwater in Bangladesh. Their work developed a complete model for understanding and preventing this contamination.
 Most Cited Paper Award: One of Dr. Badruzzaman’s research papers titled “Solid-phases and desorption processes of arsenic within Bangladesh sediments,” published in Chemical Geology, was recognized as the most cited paper from 2005 to 2010.
 Chi Epsilon Best Student in Civil Engineering: Dr. Badruzzaman was recognized as the top civil engineering graduate student in 1991 during his studies.

 Controversy 
In 2024, media reports raised allegations regarding irregularities in lecturer recruitment at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). According to Daily Amar Desh, critics alleged that several lecturer appointments were made in deviation from established merit-based ranking procedures, and that candidates with familial connections to university officials were selected over higher-ranked applicants in certain departments, including Civil Engineering and Water Resources Engineering.

The university administration rejected the allegations, stating that the recruitment process was conducted in accordance with existing regulations and that no favoritism or nepotism occurred. The Vice-Chancellor maintained that all appointments were approved through the university’s formal selection mechanisms.

References

Category:Bangladeshi academics