8.5cr primary textbooks reach schools, students to receive on Jan 1

All government primary school students will receive their full set of textbooks on January 1, according to officials concerned.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has completed the printing of textbooks for government primary school students ahead of schedule. The newly printed books have already been sent to schools, including those in remote areas, with the entire distribution process completed last week. As a result, students will be able to return home with new textbooks on the first day of the academic year.

This information was confirmed after speaking with officials of the NCTB, the Department of Primary Education (DPE), several district and upazila primary education offices, and head teachers of primary schools.

Sources at the DPE and NCTB said the textbooks were scheduled to be printed and delivered to upazilas by November 30. Although there was a slight delay, it did not affect the overall process, as 100 percent of the books were delivered to all upazilas by December 15. Subsequently, the upazila primary education offices supplied the books to schools based on demand.

The DPE determines the required number of textbooks for primary students and submits the demand to the NCTB. The NCTB’s production wing then oversees the printing and distribution accordingly.

According to the NCTB production branch, a total of 85.925 million textbooks – from pre-primary to fifth grade – have been printed for the 2026 academic year. All copies have been printed, bound and trimmed, and sent to the upazilas for distribution.

NCTB Production Controller Abu Naser Tuku told Jago News that all primary textbooks were ready by the first week of December. “We have sent all the books to the upazilas, and the upazila primary education offices have completed distribution to schools. Students will receive new textbooks on the first day of the academic year,” he said.

Syed Firoz Iftekhar, Assistant District Education Officer of Kurigram, said textbooks were received well in advance this year. “Under the supervision of the district office, the books were sent to all upazila offices and then distributed to schools according to demand,” he told Jago News.

He added that distribution began in November and was completed last week. “Almost all textbooks reached schools about two weeks ago. All primary students will receive their books on January 1,” he said.

Director General of the Department of Primary Education Abu Nur Md. Shamsuzzaman said there is no textbook shortage this year. “The books have reached schools on time. The academic year will begin on January 1, and textbooks will be distributed that day. Nearly one crore primary students will experience the joy of new books, which I hope will encourage them to attend classes,” he said.