Extra Tk 23.67 crore for textbook printing heads for approval, NCTB targets finishing all books by December 15

The government wants to hand free new textbooks to students on the very first day of the coming academic year. To that end, printing of more than 310 million books for the primary and secondary levels is under way. Printing of 98 percent of primary-level books and 70 percent of secondary-level books has already been completed.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has set a target of finishing the printing of all books by December 15 and ensuring supply.

However, printing of four new books added for grades four and six has not yet started. The number of these new books is about 15 million.

On the other hand, printing additional formes for grade four and five primary textbooks is raising the government's cost by Tk 23.67 crore. This will increase the printing contract value for the books concerned by about 12.65 percent, to Tk 210.78 crore.

The government's total cost for printing more than 310 million books for the coming academic year has been estimated at Tk 1,879 crore. Printing is under way at 117 presses across the country. People concerned said work is running for about 20 hours a day at the presses to finish quickly.

Tofayel Khan, former president of the printing owners' association, said about 30 million books are still held up, and the government has newly added four books. He said there is uncertainty over whether so many books can be supplied within the scheduled time, and that the new books have created extra pressure on printing and supply.

The cost increase for printing additional formes of grade four and five primary textbooks is Tk 23,67,68,464. At a meeting of the cabinet committee on government purchase on Thursday, chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a proposal in this regard was recommended for approval.

According to meeting sources, a total of 98 lots were made for printing grade four and five textbooks for the 2026 academic year. Of them, the primary and mass education ministry proposed a variation for printing additional formes for books in 94 lots.

Under the proposal, additional formes will be printed for 36,290,792 copies of textbooks under the 94 lots. The original contract value of these books was Tk 187,10,91,764. With the additional Tk 23,67,68,464, the revised contract value stands at Tk 210,78,60,228.

The NCTB is optimistic about printing and supplying all books within the scheduled time. Professor Abu Naser Tuku, a member of the board, said printing of secondary-level books started somewhat later than primary, but supply will be made in December according to the plan. He said the target is to finish printing all books by December 15, and preparations are under way to deliver new books to students on the first day of the year accordingly.

People concerned say that to ensure supply on time, the remaining printing must be finished quickly and the printing and supply of the newly added books must also be speeded up.