The Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology (ILET), University of Dhaka was established on the 20 June 2011 by merger and integration of the erstwhile “Bangladesh College of Leather Technology” of the Directorate of Technical Education, the ministry of education, the government of Bangladesh with the University of Dhaka with all its assets, funds, rights, interests, properties, etc. and all its employees. Now, the Institute of Leather Engineering and Technology is functioning as an integral part institution of the University of Dhaka.

This institute has a glorious history which was officially inaugurated on 15 August 1947, just after the end of British rule, by the Ministry of Industry with the name of “East Bengal Tanning Institute” for the development of the tanning industry. The institute started its journey on 10 June 1949 and academic activities were commenced from the year 1952 after the provision of infrastructure. Later, the name of the institute was substituted with “Pakistan Leather Technology”. In 1967, the institute was transferred to the Ministry of Education and supervised under the administrative control of the technical education board to disseminate better academic and educational facilities. After liberation, the institute was renamed as the “Bangladesh College of Leather Technology” and was providing diploma, certificate, and artisan level education on leather technology until 1979. Then the government of Bangladesh started a graduate course in B.Sc. Engineering in Leather Technology under the University of Dhaka from the 1979-1980 academic session. Later, on 20th June 2011, the “Bangladesh College of Leather Technology” was handed over to the University of Dhaka with its resource and manpower and started as a distinct institute of the University of Dhaka.

Under the University of Dhaka, the institute has been commenced its journey with the following objectives–

• to produce qualified manpower and skills in the field of tannery, footwear, and leather goods sector.
• to provide quality education leading to Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.), Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Diploma degrees in the leather engineering and technology and related field;
• to initiate, organize and undertake research in the field of Leather Engineering and Technology;
• to provide in-plant and industry-oriented short and long term training programs in various fields of leather, footwear, and leather products;
• to provide quality control and laboratory facilities for testing raw materials, consumable, and finished goods;
• to organize seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and other events to disseminate knowledge about cutting-edge technology for raw hides/skins processing and the development of footwear and leather product;
• to provide consultancy and advisory services to institutions, NGOs, private and public sector corporations, who seek such assistance;
• to establish link-programs and research collaborations with various institutions/ organizations within the country and abroad.

Administration and Management of ILET

The ILET is run by the seventeenth statutes under President's order of 1973 and its budget is a part of the university budget. The Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive of the Institute. The Director is the administrative head of the Institute. Administration and Management of the Institute are vested in the following bodies, subject to the approval of their actions by the Syndicate and or Academic Council of the University, as the case may be:

1. The Board of Governors (BoG), of which the Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman;
2. The Selection Board for Professorships and Associate Professorships of which the Vice-Chancellor is the Chairman;
3. The Selection Board for teaching Posts other than Professorships and Associate Professorships of which the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) is the Chairman;
4. The Selection Board for appointments to non-teaching posts not below the rank of Section Officers of which the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) is the Chairman;
5. The Coordination and Development (C&D) Committee, of which the Director is the Chairman;
6. The Academic Committee, of which the Director is the Chairman.

At present, the programs are offered by the Institute are as follows with the latest curriculum based on the need for modern tanneries and leather products industries:

1. B. Sc. in Leather Engineering (4 years; 8 semesters)
2. B. Sc. in Leather Products (4 years; 8 semesters)
3. B. Sc. in Footwear Engineering (4 years; 8 semesters)
4. M. Sc. in Leather Engineering (1.5 years; 3 semesters)
5. M.Sc. in Footwear Engineering (1.5 years; 3 semesters)
6. M.Sc. in Leather Products Engineering (1.5 years; 3 semesters)

 ILET aims at creating efficient human resources in the fields of the leather industry, the leather products industry, and the footwear industry. The institute provides its undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in industrial training where students are attached to different companies and they relate theories, concepts and techniques learned from the academic courses with real-life experiences. At the end of the final year, our graduate students are involved in project work, report writing, and presentation. The master’s students involve in research and writing up a thesis vigorously. We are committed to providing our students, the very best education, and training opportunities designed to enable each and every student to make the best use of their potentials and achieve their ambitions.

ILET has an interdisciplinary team of faculty members having a strong research background. The faculty members have expertise in tannery effluent treatment, leather processing technologies, materials science, environmental chemistry, medicinal chemistry, organometallic chemistry, analytical chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry, nanotechnology for leather engineering, cleaner technologies, product design and development, circular economy, sustainability, supply chain risk management, industry 4.0 G, and foot comfort. We also conduct outreach activities to disseminate the industrial-scale solutions beyond the University of Dhaka. We provide the expertise needed for pre- and post-implementation assessment of projects, programs, and policies regarding the Leather industry, the Leather products industry, and the Footwear industry.