The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has signed agreements with 133 printing companies to print 306,198,101 free textbooks for primary and secondary students for the 2027 academic year.
The cost of printing the books has been increased by around Tk 3 billion compared with last year. In addition, the printing presses, allegedly acting as a cartel, quoted prices Tk 1 billion higher than the estimated rate.
All told, the government is incurring an additional cost of around Tk 4 billion to print the textbooks this year. Despite this, printing presses have been rushing to print low-quality textbooks under the cover of darkness in pursuit of higher profits.
A “Ministry Team,” formed with officials from the Ministry of Education, along with NCTB inspection teams and an inspection agent, recently conducted on-site inspections and destroyed more than 10 million sheets (forms) of low-quality primary textbooks from 52 printing presses by cutting them up.
They also caught instances of missing forms, duplicate forms, failure to apply ultra-varnish, binding defects and the use of low-quality ink. The owners of the printing presses were warned to ensure that problems such as blurry text, rough paper and ink smudging do not recur.
At several printing presses, good-quality paper was used for the first few pages of the textbooks, while substandard paper was used for the pages inside. Relevant sources confirmed these details to Ittefaq.
An NCTB official told Ittefaq yesterday that the Ministry Team, during an on-site inspection last Wednesday at Molla Press and Publication and Auto Printing and Packaging, caught low-quality textbooks in the act. The two presses had changed the colors of maps in the Grade 5 social science textbook. The text alongside the maps was completely unclear. As a result, the Ministry Team and the inspection agent cut up and destroyed those books. At the same time, the Ministry Team seized a large quantity of low-quality ink used for printing the textbooks from the premises of the two presses and destroyed it by dumping it into drains.
The following day, Thursday, Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan visited the NCTB. The owner of Molla Press and Publication and Auto Printing and Packaging, Mintu Molla, was summoned to the NCTB. The education minister demanded an explanation from Mintu Molla, reportedly in a stern tone, over the use of low-quality ink to print textbooks. Mintu Molla apologized and promised that he would not make such mistakes or engage in irregularities in the future. Contacted about the matter, Mintu Molla told Ittefaq yesterday that only a small number of textbooks had defects and that those books. These were seized and destroyed. The Ministry Team also seized low-quality textbooks from Farazi Press during an on-site inspection. At the time, the owner of a large printing company went to Farazi Press and books were being reprinted.
Meanwhile, the Ministry Team and the NCTB inspection agent caught low-quality textbooks during an inspection at Redwania Press and Publication. The substandard books were cut up and discarded. Letter and Color printing press also printed low-quality textbooks and Esho Likhte Shikhi (“Come, Let’s Learn to Write”) exercise books. These were seized and destroyed. The Ministry Team also seized low-quality textbooks from Farazi Press during an on-site inspection. At the time, the owner of a large printing company went to Farazi Press and obstructed the cutting and destruction of the substandard books. This angered the Ministry Team.
An NCTB source said that most printing presses had used missing forms, duplicate forms, failed to apply ultra-varnish, had binding defects and used low-quality ink in printing the textbooks. These irregularities were detected during inspections. The cutting quality at many printing presses was also poor. Overall, most of the printing presses are not complying with the conditions of the tender. Most presses are not using paper supplied by major paper mills. Instead, many have turned to buying cheaper paper from small paper mills toB’s primary-level textbooks. Allegations have emerged that two suppliers of substandard paper, after failing to persuade the company’s managing director, Md. Sirajim Munir, to approve low-quality paper, threatened to kill print the textbooks.
Inspection company chief allegedly threatened
Infinity Survey and Inspection (BD) was awarded the contract to inspect NCTB’s primary-level textbooks. Allegations have emerged that two suppliers of substandard paper, after failing to persuade the company’s managing director, Md. Sirajim Munir, to approve low-quality paper, threatened to kill him. It is worth noting that paper must be approved before textbooks can be printed. The NCTB’s inspection agent grants approval based on laboratory tests.
Some received twice their production capacity in work
NCTB Controller Md. Lutfur Rahman told Ittefaq yesterday that the NCTB has continued strict monitoring this year of the Bangladesh Printing Industries Association Tofail Khan said many printing-press owners are being harmed by the alleged cartel surrounding textbook printing. Some are receiving less than one-third of the work their presses are capable of handling, while others are receiving twice their production capacity. “This cartel should be dismantled,” he said to ensure the quality of textbooks. He said immediate action is being taken whenever anyone is found involved in irregularities. Last Thursday, the owner of a printing press involved in irregularities was summoned and warned.
Former president of the Bangladesh Printing Industries Association Tofail Khan said many printing-press owners are being harmed by the alleged cartel surrounding textbook printing. Some are receiving less than one-third of the work their presses are capable of handling, while others are receiving twice their production capacity. “This cartel should be dismantled,” he said.
Meanwhile, at the direction of the Ministry of Education and the NCTB, Independent Inspection Services BD organized a training workshop yesterday afternoon aimed at ensuring the quality of secondary-level textbooks for the 2027 academic year. Professor Md. Abu Naser Tuku, NCTB member (Textbooks), was the chief guest. Sheikh Belal Hossain, proprietor of Independent Inspection Services BD, said that there would be no compromise on textbook quality. He said paper is being approved only after proper inspection and verification.