The printing of free textbooks for the upcoming academic year has run into various complications. These difficulties have raised concerns about whether the government will be able to fulfill its promise of placing the books in students’ hands at the very beginning of the year. The concerns stem from the country’s severe gas shortage and ongoing load-shedding. In addition, the greed of some printing-press owners for excessive profits and their tendency to violate regulations have further aggravated the situation.
According to various printing-press sources, production capacity at paper mills in the country has fallen to less than half because of the severe gas shortage. Along with the paper shortage, if the ongoing load-shedding continues, concerns have arisen about whether textbooks can be delivered to students before next March. Eleven presses have been awarded contracts to print textbooks for 30 lots of pre-primary books. They have already begun printing. However, shortages of paper and load-shedding have emerged as major obstacles to the printing process.
Two printing-press owners told Ittefaq yesterday that most of the presses where textbooks are printed are located outside the capital, in rural areas. Large printing machines require uninterrupted electricity to operate. Frequent load-shedding is preventing press operations from progressing on schedule. As a result, completing the work within the stipulated 70 days will be a challenge.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that some printing-press owners have resorted to various irregularities in printing the textbooks. They are allegedly using low-quality paper to print the books. Following these allegations, inspection agents of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) rejected 132 tonnes of substandard paper at two printing presses. Of this, 110 tonnes belonging to Anand Printers and 22 tonnes belonging to Anupam Printers were rejected.
Confirming the matter, NCTB Member (Textbooks) Professor Abu Naser Tuku told Ittefaq yesterday that the NCTB has taken a strict stance this year to ensure the quality of the books and prevent the use of substandard paper and poor-quality printing. Those involved in irregularities will be issued show-cause notices. Contracts with printing presses that receive three consecutive show-cause notices will be cancelled.
In addition, several printing presses have begun printing textbooks this year without obtaining approval for the paper, which is a complete violation of the rules. Mohammad Sirajim Munir, Managing Director of Infinity Survey and Inspection, the primary-school inspection agent appointed by the NCTB, told Ittefaq yesterday, “Approval will not be given if the quality of the paper is not up to standard. The brightness of the paper supplied by Map Paper Board Mills Limited is below the prescribed standard. The paper is also too thick. For this reason, the paper supplied by this company was not accepted. In addition, the paper supplied by two companies, ‘T.K. Paper Mill’ and ‘Map Paper Board Mills Limited,’ was found to be substandard in terms of GSM (weight) and thickness, opacity, and bursting factor. Therefore, approval was not given for paper from these companies.”
Sirajim Munir further said that printing-press owners and paper-mill owners are blaming each other over the issue of substandard paper. The printing-press owners claim that the mill owners supplied poor-quality paper. On the other hand, the paper-mill owners say that the printing-press owners asked them to supply low-quality paper at a lower price.
The NCTB says that for secondary-level textbooks this year, the required standards have been set at 85 percent brightness, a bursting factor of 18, and 85 percent opacity. For pre-primary textbooks, the standards are 85 percent brightness, a bursting factor of 20, and 90 percent opacity.
It has been learned that, of the 596 lots invited for the printing, binding, and supply of approximately 306.1 million textbooks for the 2027 academic year, only one organization submitted a tender in around 60 lots. According to NCTB sources, there are allegations that nearly 90 percent of the major contracts have been divided among just eight to 10 printing presses. There are also reports that bids in several lots were higher than the estimated prices. This raises the risk of increased government expenditure. Although the country has more than a thousand large and small printing presses, there is virtually no competition in government textbook printing. Limited competition is increasing the risk of higher public spending.
Several companies accused of irregularities last year have once again been allowed to participate in this year’s tenders. Seven printing companies were blacklisted for one year for allegations during the 2026 academic year of using substandard paper, defects in printing and binding, and failure to supply books on time. Later, following applications from the companies, the board removed them from the blacklist on the basis of written undertakings. As a result, these companies have also been given the opportunity to participate in the tender for printing textbooks for the 2027 academic year.
The companies removed from the blacklist are Nahar Printers, Amazon Printing Press, Bornomala Press, PBS Printers, Tangail Offset Press, Hakkani Printers, and Sohagi Printers.
One printing-press owner said, “Although medium-sized and small printing presses like ours have the capacity, it is difficult to meet the specific experience requirements for tenders involving large contracts. As a result, our opportunity to participate in tenders is limited.”
Meanwhile, there are separate allegations concerning the e-tender for textbooks for the 2027 academic year. According to sources familiar with the matter, the initial cost estimate was set at Tk 3.10 per form. However, while the tender was live, the amount was increased to Tk 3.40 per form. The 30-paisa increase per form could result in additional expenditure amounting to several hundred crore taka because of the huge number of forms involved.
When asked about the matter, an NCTB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that there is a committee responsible for reviewing the cost estimate. After the tender went live, the committee realized that the amount had been underestimated. Therefore, on the chairman’s instructions, the amount was subsequently increased by another 30 paisa, bringing it to Tk 3.40 per form.