The government will give free jute bags to 33 lakh students admitted to the first grade in all public, private and Ibtedai madrasas of the country.
Through this, students can gain knowledge about jute and jute products from the beginning of their life.
Besides, leaflets will also be given on Bangabandhu's ideals and the spirit of liberation war.
A planning commission official said, initially, the government has undertaken a project to give this bag and leaflets to a total of 33 lakh students.
The cost to the government for each bag will be Tk 750, he said, adding that the total expenditure in this is estimated at Tk 286.97 crore.
These jute bags and leaflets will be delivered to the students by June 2024, he added.
According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, this expenditure may be more or less depending on the number of students.
After completing the project, initiatives will be taken to keep it running from the revenue budget of the government.
According to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the project titled 'Bangabandhu's ideals and the spirit of the liberation war at the level of primary education' has been sent to the Planning Commission for approval.
According to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, the price of each bag has been fixed at Tk 750.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will make every effort to buy jute bags from the Ministry of Jute and Textiles.
One of the objectives of the project is to inculcate the ideals of Bangabandhu and the spirit of liberation war in the minds of primary school students.
Kamrun Nahar, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, said, "The project has been taken to spread the ideals of Bangabandhu among the new generation. The project is in a very early stage. We have sent it to the Planning Commission. The Commission will hold a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on the project. The project will be approved as the meeting wants. We have initially fixed the price of the jute bag at Tk 750. This has been done at the rates of the Ministry of Jute and Textiles."
She also said, "We will see whether jute bags can be bought using the G to G method or not. As a result, the use of jute products will increase. Farmers and the country will also benefit from the implementation of the project."
However, the same program will be conducted in the following years as well.
In 2021, bags will be purchased for 33 lakh students, slightly more than the total number of students enrolled in first grade in government primary schools.
According to the annual primary school census published by the Directorate of Primary Education in March-2022, the number of students enrolled in primary schools in the country in 2021 was about 32.50 lakh.
Officials said, after the establishment of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, the government has already taken appropriate steps to ensure the welfare of the freedom fighters and involve them in various activities of nation building.
Through the construction of Muktijoddha complex buildings in all districts and upazilas, efforts are being made to expand the activities of Muktijoddha Sangsad office, to inform the new generation of the glorious true history of the liberation war and to improve the socio-economic conditions of the poor freedom fighters.
