Staff Reporter :
The timely distribution of free textbooks for secondary-level students in 2026 has come under question after the government’s purchase committee rejected procurement proposals worth more than Tk603 crore for printing, binding, and supplying books for Classes 6 to 8.
The proposals, placed by the Secondary and Higher Education Division and to be executed by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), sought approval to print over 12 crore copies of textbooks covering Bangla, English, Dakhil, and technical streams.
At a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase on Sunday, chaired by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, the proposals were turned down, citing compliance and procedural issues.
According to documents, Class 6 textbooks were planned under 97 of 100 responsive lots at Tk180.04 crore, Class 7 under 94 lots at Tk200.20 crore, and Class 8 under 89 lots at Tk223.12 crore.
The remaining non-responsive lots were expected to go through a re-tendering process.
Officials fear the non-approval could trigger delays across the entire procurement cycle, jeopardising the government’s pledge to distribute textbooks on 1 January – a tradition long celebrated as “Book Festival Day.”
NCTB usually begins printing months ahead of schedule to meet the massive nationwide demand.
But with bids now heading for re-evaluation, experts warn that disruptions may be unavoidable, especially as the new curriculum is being rolled out in phases.
The risks are not merely theoretical. In 2025, millions of students started the year without complete sets of textbooks for the first time in more than a decade.
Procurement delays, quality control problems, and logistical bottlenecks forced book deliveries weeks behind schedule.
“This year’s rejection means we could see a repeat of last year’s crisis,” said an Education Ministry official, requesting anonymity.
“Unless approval comes quickly, there may not be enough time for printers to finish the job.”
For the 2026 session, the average cost per book has been estimated at Tk41.63 for Class 6, Tk51.26 for Class 7, and Tk60.91 for Class 8. But with tender disputes and re-tendering now on the horizon, officials admit no fresh timeline has been finalised.
If delays persist, millions of secondary-level students across general, Dakhil, and technical streams could begin 2026 without the textbooks they need – further straining the government’s education reforms and classroom activities.
