Following 17 years of BIT, Khulna, along with three other engineering colleges nationwide, Khulna Engineering College transitioned into Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), Khulna through an ordinance. Post-conversion, its administrative, academic, financial powers, and management underwent a complete overhaul. The Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh held the position of ‘Visitor’ for all BITs. Additionally, a council named the Council of BITs’ was established in Dhaka, with the Minister for Education serving as the ‘Chairman’ of the Council as an Ex-Officio member. The Council of BITs’ had a Vice-Chairman as the executive head. Each BIT had a Board of Governors (BOG) as its highest authority, responsible for conducting all official business through its meetings. Furthermore, in each BIT, a Director served as the Executive Head of the institute, appointed by the Hon’ble President.
The Chairman of BOG for each BIT was appointed by the Ministry of Education and chaired all authorities, including the BOG and Selection Committee, except the Academic Council, which was chaired by the Director of BIT. Despite being declared autonomous, BITs did not fully enjoy autonomy due to the absence of necessary acts, rules, and regulations, though they had academic autonomy. In the Engineering departments, M. Sc. Engineering and Ph. D. courses began in 1994, while M. Phil. and Ph. D. degrees in basic science departments started in 2000. However, BIT, Khulna introduced M. S. Eng., M. Phil., and Ph. D. Degree programs in 2000, 2004, and 2005, respectively, for the first time. The Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) department began with 60 students in 1999. The government of Bangladesh allocated Tk. 101 crore in 2000 for a 7-year period to expand and develop BIT, Khulna, resulting in a significant increase in students, teachers, officers, and staff. The intake of students in the CE, EEE, and ME departments was increased to 120. In 2001, two new departments, namely Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) and Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE), were introduced at the undergraduate level. In 2006, 30 students were admitted to the undergraduate course of Industrial & Production Engineering under the IEM Dept. During this period, the number of student halls increased to five, named Fazlul Haque Hall, Lalon Shah Hall, Khanjahan Ali Hall, Dr. M. A. Rashid Hall, and Rokeya Hall. Additionally, the government granted funds for the construction of two new halls. The first phase of the new academic building’s construction was completed in 2005, along with the completion of the Water Treatment Plant construction in 2001.
A total of 2563 students successfully obtained their B. Sc. Engineering degrees during the BIT period. Among them, 913, 921, and 729 students graduated from the Departments of CE, EEE, and ME respectively. Throughout the BIT, Khulna era, two Convocations were held, commemorating the achievements of its graduates, in the years 1999 and 2003. Prof. M. A. Hannan (1986-1997), Prof. G. M. Habibullah (1997-1998), Prof. Dr. M. A. Samad (1998-2002), and Prof. Dr. Md. Nawsher Ali Morol (2002-2003) contributed their leadership as Directors of BIT, Khulna during various periods.
