The Crime Desk: On the first day of the year, the book festival started simultaneously in all educational institutions across the country. Free new books are being given to young students. The festival officially started on Monday (January 1) at 10 a.m. Primary and VI-VI students get all the books on the first day. Parents are also happy with their happiness.
At around 10:30 a.m. on this day, the central program of the elementary-level book festival began at the National Government Primary School grounds in Mirpur, the capital. New books were given to the students at the beginning. Meanwhile, the students simultaneously raised the new book and expressed their excitement. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain participated as the chief guest at the event. Ministry Secretary Farid Ahmed was the special guest. The program was presided over by the Director General of the Primary Education Directorate, Shah Rezwan Hayat.
Meanwhile, although there is no central organization for secondary schools, book festivals have been organized in all educational institutions across the country. Books are being distributed in various educational institutions in a festive atmosphere. Book distribution activities will continue until the afternoon. The Ministry of Education said that all students will return with their books.
According to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), 307 million, 83 thousand, 517 copies of books are being printed for 3 crore, 81 lakh, 28 thousand, and 324 students in the 2024 academic year. In this case, the expenditure has been estimated at 1400 crores. 5 crore, 38 lakh, 3 thousand, and 423 copies of books have been printed for first, fourth, and fifth grade students. The number of second and third-class books is 3 crore, 36 lakh, 1 thousand, and 274. 61 lakh, 93 thousand, and 878 copies of books have been printed for pre-primary. A total of 6 crore 45 lakh 48 thousand 308 books are being printed in the sixth class, 4 crore 45 lakh 57 thousand copies in the seventh class, 5 crore 34 lakh 84 thousand 271 copies for the eighth class, and 5 crore 6 lakh 84 thousand 573 books are being printed for the ninth class.
On the other hand, a total of 2 lakh, 5 thousand, and 31 books are being printed for the children of minority groups (written in five languages). Among other books, 5 thousand 752 copies of ‘Braille’ books will be printed. Moreover, teachers will be given 40 lakh, 96 thousand, and 628 ‘Teacher’s Assistants’. Textbooks have already been sent to every upazila in the country.
It should be noted that the current government has distributed 464 crore, 78 lakh, 29 thousand, and 883 books free of charge to students up to secondary level across the country since 2010. Since 2017, the government has been distributing books in Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo, and Sadri languages to children of minority ethnic groups to study in their mother tongue, as well as books to blind students.
