Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, adviser to the interim government on the Ministries of Finance and Commerce, affirmed that the government would ensure distribution of free textbooks among primary students in due time. It means the primary school students will get textbooks in January as students of the primary schools across the country usualy get text books every year in begining of January.
“We have taken an important decision today (Tuesday) over the issue. We have given clearance for printing, binding and supplying of textbooks for primary school students so that they can get such books in due time. We will ensure that,” he said.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said this while talking to the reporters on Tuesday evening after chairing the fifth meeting of the Adviser Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.
The Directorate of Primary Education under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education would procure textbooks including printing, binding and supply works for classes 1, 2 and 3 in 20 packages under 88 lots for the academicyear 2025 with a cost of Taka 147.98 crore.
When asked about the standard of paper and printing of new textbooks, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed clearly said, “We won't comprise on the standard of such textbooks as highest possible standard will be pursued.”
He further said the meeting preferred using the paper of Karnaphuli Paper Mills since it is of good standard.
Besides, the Adviser said that the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has been suggested to monitor the entire procedure even they have been suggested to monitor the process also at local level.
Replying to another question whether the new book distribution programme (Boi Utsav) will be held on January 1, 2025, Salehuddin said he was not sure whether the Boi Utsav would be held or not, but assured that the students would get such textbooks during that time.
The book festival in primary schools across the country take place January 1 every year as textbooks are distrbuted among primary stundents on the day.
In the upcoming year, change will be taken in many books as controversial chapters have been included in many textbooks during the Awami League regime.
The Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League governmnet was toppled on August 5 following student-mass movement.
