The government will distribute new books free of cost to approximately 38 million students at the beginning of the new year, ahead of the 12th national polls scheduled for January 7.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the distribution of books from her office at 11am on December 31, as National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) Chairman Prof Md Farhadul Islam informed Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
However, no political figure can participate in the book festival, as per the Election Commission's directions, said the NCTB chairman.
Earlier, in response to the Ministry of Education's request to arrange the book festival, the commission has permitted the Ministry of Education to celebrate the new book distribution event.
According to a letter signed by Md Atiar Rahman, deputy secretary of the commission, the EC has given its consent to arranging and celebrating the event, considering it a routine government task to distribute new textbooks across the country on January 1, the first day of the academic year.
The letter says: "Divisional commissioners, district commissioners, upazila executive officers, and all concerned will regularly distribute books among the students of various educational institutions in their respective places."
Distribution will begin once the prime minister gives her consent to officially begin the book distribution program.
Only Suaganj Tafajjal Ahmed Chowdhury High School and College under Sadar Dakshin Upazila of Comilla District won't be allowed to arrange this program, but the commission did not provide any reasons for this.
Last year, members of Parliament were asked by the Ministry of Education to celebrate a new book festival in their respective districts. However, due to the ongoing election, they will not be able to participate in compliance with electoral conduct rules, as mentioned by the NCTB chairman.
According to NCTB sources, 307,083,517 copies of new books are being printed for free distribution among 38,127,630 students at the primary and secondary levels.
Of them, 93,800,000 copies are for the primary level, and 18,611,206 copies are for the secondary level.
Additionally, 27,173,135 books are being printed for ebtedayee madrasas.
All books from the first grade to grade seven have already reached the upazila level.
Students of grades eight and nine will receive all books, except for history, social science, and science books, which will be available from January 7.
Due to delayed submission of manuscripts, the printing work for these three books has not yet been completed.
