M M Jasim :
Uncertainty looms large over distribution of textbooks among the school students on time, as many printing houses have stopped printing the books due to delay payment from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
The government celebrates book festival on January 1, every year. New textbooks are given to the all students of Bangla and English version on that day.
But this year the school students are unlikely to get their textbooks on time, as many textbooks have not been printed yet, according to NCTB and printing houses.
The printing houses were scheduled to provide all the primary level books on December 9. But the contractors did not provide the books. Even they did not print about two crore books.
At least 20 percent books of all levels have not been printed yet. As a result, the distribution of books on January 1 is uncertain, sources said.
The officials of NCTB and printing press owners said the contractors are frequently requesting the NCTB to pay their dues. But the NCTB did not pay heed to their request.
When contacted Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Saturday said none came to him with complaint about the allegation of delay payment.
“But I can assure all the students of providing all books like previous year,” he said.
The printing press owners said that the NCTB authorities failed to provide satisfactory payment to the contractors.
Usually the NCTB pays just after receiving the new books. But this year, the contractors are not paid properly.
“We have already completed printing of many textbooks but we have not been paid yet. If weren’t
paid how and in what way we will print the rest textbooks,” Tofayel Khan, President, Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh told The New Nation on Saturday. He said the fund for printing books was less than Tk 196 crore.
“That is why the NCTB couldn’t pay the contractors. Usually the contractors take bank loan or other sources to print the textbooks. After completion of printing they collect money from NCTB. But now the contractors are passing crucial times. That is why they have stopped printing,” Tofayel Khan said.
NCTB sources said the 295 contractors will provide 176,829,815 secondary books, 71 contractors will provide 5,71,97,985 Dakhil and Ebtedayee books, 14 contractors will provide 6,9,211 technical books and 9,703 Braille books. The total expenditure of the books for printing is Tk 612 crore.
The NCTB offered tender in March this year and asked the printing houses to complete the textbooks by July.
The NCTB also ordered the contractors to print 10,52,36, 797 primary books and 1,1,5,832 pre-primary books.
Of them, Indian contractors got the order to print 1,800,000 primary books.
NCTB Chairman Professor Narayan Chandra Shaha denied the allegations, saying the contractors did not submit printing books yet.
“Before submitting books how I will provide any cheque for bill? NCTB paid Tk 122 crore last week. We will be able to pay all bills by January last,” he hoped.
Uncertainty looms large over distribution of textbooks among the school students on time, as many printing houses have stopped printing the books due to delay payment from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).
The government celebrates book festival on January 1, every year. New textbooks are given to the all students of Bangla and English version on that day.
But this year the school students are unlikely to get their textbooks on time, as many textbooks have not been printed yet, according to NCTB and printing houses.
The printing houses were scheduled to provide all the primary level books on December 9. But the contractors did not provide the books. Even they did not print about two crore books.
At least 20 percent books of all levels have not been printed yet. As a result, the distribution of books on January 1 is uncertain, sources said.
The officials of NCTB and printing press owners said the contractors are frequently requesting the NCTB to pay their dues. But the NCTB did not pay heed to their request.
When contacted Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Saturday said none came to him with complaint about the allegation of delay payment.
“But I can assure all the students of providing all books like previous year,” he said.
The printing press owners said that the NCTB authorities failed to provide satisfactory payment to the contractors.
Usually the NCTB pays just after receiving the new books. But this year, the contractors are not paid properly.
“We have already completed printing of many textbooks but we have not been paid yet. If weren’t
paid how and in what way we will print the rest textbooks,” Tofayel Khan, President, Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh told The New Nation on Saturday. He said the fund for printing books was less than Tk 196 crore.
“That is why the NCTB couldn’t pay the contractors. Usually the contractors take bank loan or other sources to print the textbooks. After completion of printing they collect money from NCTB. But now the contractors are passing crucial times. That is why they have stopped printing,” Tofayel Khan said.
NCTB sources said the 295 contractors will provide 176,829,815 secondary books, 71 contractors will provide 5,71,97,985 Dakhil and Ebtedayee books, 14 contractors will provide 6,9,211 technical books and 9,703 Braille books. The total expenditure of the books for printing is Tk 612 crore.
The NCTB offered tender in March this year and asked the printing houses to complete the textbooks by July.
The NCTB also ordered the contractors to print 10,52,36, 797 primary books and 1,1,5,832 pre-primary books.
Of them, Indian contractors got the order to print 1,800,000 primary books.
NCTB Chairman Professor Narayan Chandra Shaha denied the allegations, saying the contractors did not submit printing books yet.
“Before submitting books how I will provide any cheque for bill? NCTB paid Tk 122 crore last week. We will be able to pay all bills by January last,” he hoped.
