In the shifting landscape of higher education in Bangladesh, architecture has emerged as one of the most dynamic and contested fields. From the turbulence at BUET in the late 1990s to the rise of private universities, architectural education has continually reinvented itself to meet new challenges. This feature explores the journey of Professor Abu Sayeed M Ahmed-academic, conservationist, and reformer- whose career mirrors the broader transformation of the discipline. His reflections reveal how curricula evolved, how heritage found its place in design, and how architecture is now branching into diverse fields from community planning to product design.
The Journey of Professor Abu Sayeed M Ahmed
In 1997, after completing his PhD at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, Professor Sayeed returned to Bangladesh to find the country’s premier institution of architectural education, BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), in turmoil. Debates over admission tests, mandatory subjects, and curriculum reform had escalated into protests. A group of fifteen to twenty faculty members resigned amid the chaos.
For Sayeed, however, this turbulence opened new possibilities. Alongside peers like Fuad Hassan Mallick and Dr. Mahbub, he joined the newly founded University of Asia Pacific (UAP). For him, it was not simply about employment but about the chance to shape something new: “Why not start afresh? In a new place, we could shape the curriculum, teaching, and culture from the ground up.”
Building Foundations: Reforming Curriculum and Pedagogy
At its start, UAP adopted BUET’s syllabus wholesale—a necessity for approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC). But Sayeed and his colleagues quickly recognized opportunities to innovate. They began by modifying teaching methodologies and gradually introduced new subjects, particularly in history and conservation.
One of his major contributions was pioneering the Architectural Conservation course in Bangladesh. He expanded the scope of history, not only as an abstract academic subject but as a foundation for design practice. Heritage buildings, old city quarters, and cultural memory became integrated into the studio. Today, nearly all architecture programs in Bangladesh include
heritage conservation, and many projects rooted in this approach have won international recognition.
“Back then, history was disconnected from design. Now we see young architects winning awards for projects that merge the old and the new, that respect the continuity of culture.” — Prof. Sayeed
Expanding Academic Freedom in Private Universities
Private universities offered freedoms unavailable to public institutions. Recruitment broke away from rigid hierarchies, prioritizing design talent and studio performance rather than exam ranks. This created a generation of faculty deeply engaged in design.
UAP also forged strong links between academia and industry. Each studio course paired a full-time academic with a practicing professional, ensuring students confronted real-world challenges. “Almost every senior architect in Dhaka engaged with our studios at some point. That was our pride,” Sayeed recalls.
Recently, UAP institutionalized this approach by creating the post of Professor in Practice—a first in Bangladesh. This designation allows seasoned professionals to teach formally without leaving their careers. Similarly, the Research Professor role was introduced for those focusing solely on scholarship. These innovations highlight UAP’s adaptability and its recognition that knowledge emerges from multiple pathways.
Shaping Curricular Change Nationwide
Bangladesh’s early architecture programs demanded nearly 200 credits, an exhausting load. UAP was among the first to streamline this into a more manageable, outcome-based model aligned with global standards. Courses were standardized to three credits, while new subjects such as digital design, advanced software, and artificial intelligence were added.
“It will take years to see the full impact,” Sayeed notes, “but already students are better equipped for contemporary practice.”
The Nature of a Professional Discipline
Architecture is not merely an academic pursuit but a professional discipline, akin to medicine or law. Mistakes carry consequences. While a physician’s error may cost a life, an architect’s mistake may trap a family in poorly lit, poorly ventilated spaces for decades.
For this reason, training has historically been rigorous. Yet one persistent flaw remains: the exploitation of young architects during their mandatory training period. Many firms treat internships as cheap labor, offering unsustainably low wages.
“If a young architect cannot survive on their salary, how can they commit themselves fully to learning? This undermines both the profession and the individual.”
Beyond Buildings: The Expanding Profession
For Sayeed, architecture must move beyond the narrow confines of building design. Around the world, architects shape interiors, signage systems, urban spaces, conservation projects, product design, and critical writing. Bangladesh, too, is diversifying.
One of his students now designs wayfinding systems at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in the U.S., while many others thrive in interior design—now the primary field for more than half of Bangladesh’s architecture graduates. In the past two decades, Bangladeshi architects have also entered fields such as photography, publishing, low-income housing, and refugee camp design.
“Design is everywhere,” Sayeed emphasizes. “From road signs to furniture, from magazines to digital graphics—without design, a country cannot advance.”
This expansion, however, demands regulatory adaptation. Interior practice has blurred the once rigid divide between consultant and contractor. Should professional rules evolve to reflect reality? *“If we adapt,” Sayeed insists, “we create more employment opportunities for architects.”
Looking Ahead
Despite structural challenges—exploited trainees, unrecognized domains, and rigid frameworks—Sayeed is optimistic. The rapid growth of architecture schools, he believes, represents potential rather than dilution. “Every graduate will find a path—whether in graphics, conservation, criticism, or community practice. The more architecture spreads, the more the nation will benefit.”
His vision of legacy is both modest and profound: conserving a handful of significant buildings, creating spaces where people can live with dignity, light, and air.
The history of architectural education in Bangladesh—from BUET’s turbulence in the 1990s to the reforms of private universities—reveals a discipline in transition. The next phase, Sayeed argues, must address fair conditions for young professionals, recognition of urban design, integration of digital and product design, and the nurturing of critical voices.
If the past three decades mark the foundation, the coming years will define architecture’s identity as both a profession and a cultural force. In that unfolding story, educators and visionaries like Professor Abu Sayeed M Ahmed stand as custodians of change—ensuring that architecture in Bangladesh evolves toward inclusivity, interdisciplinarity, and enduring relevance.
