MOHIUDDIN ALAMGIR

Even though festivals to distribute free textbooks will be celebrated at schools, many students will not get the full set of new books today, the first day of the latest academic year, thanks to the high price of paper and delays in placing work orders.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday officially inaugurated the distribution of free textbooks among students of pre-primary, primary and secondary levels for the 2023 academic year. She started the distribution programme at a ceremony at her office by handing over books to primary and secondary students in the morning.

National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) officials said the government will distribute 35.16 crore textbooks among 4.27 crore primary and secondary students.

Until yesterday evening, 69 percent of 10 crore primary textbooks and 80 percent of about 24 crore books for secondary students reached the upazilas. As the distribution is set to begin, this situation raises the question of whether all students will get their books on time.