The Daily Morning Voice Online Desk: Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has formally inaugurated the free textbook distribution programme for the academic year 2023 as the national textbook festival is set to be celebrated across the country on 1 January. She formally opened the free textbook distribution programme by handing over books to students of primary and secondary levels at a function at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here this morning. Speaking at the event, the premier said that she is very happy to distribute the textbooks among the students. According to the national curriculum and textbook board (NCTB), as many as 339.2 million textbooks are expected to be distributed at primary and secondary levels across the country.

The government has printed these textbooks by maintaining proper standard for pre-primary, primary, secondary, Ebtedayee and SSC level students and all students will get textbooks for free on the first day of the New Year. The primary level textbook festival will be held centrally at the central playground of Dhaka University (DU), while the secondary level textbook festival will be held at the Kapasia Pilot High School grounds in Gazipur. Bangladesh has set a rare example in the world through distribution of free textbooks among a large number of students on the first day of January. Referring to the government’s decision to distribute free textbooks, academicians said this initiative has reduced the rate of school dropouts and increased the number of students at primary and secondary levels.

They described the initiative of free textbook distribution as a “milestone” in the education sector as it encouraged students to continue their studies. The present government started distributing free textbooks from the 2010 academic year and so far distributed a total of 434,45,80,211 textbooks. With education minister Dipu Moni in the chair, deputy minister for education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury delivered welcome address at the ceremony. State minister for primary and mass education Zakir Hossen spoke as special guests.