PRINTING of 11.50 crore text books for primary students has already been delayed for a month this year and this delay may go further. Thus it will be rather impossible to supply books to the primary students in time in next academic calendar. A Bengali daily reported on Saturday, citing sources in the National Curriculum and Text Book Board (NCTB) and concerned publishers that in the past years work order for printing text books used to be given to the printing establishments in July. But this year, the work order is yet to be given. This delay is caused by the World Bank. Free distribution of text books to the primary students is a government programme funded by loans from the World Bank.
According to terms of the loan, it is obligatory for the NCTB to send list of selected printing establishments to the World Bank ahead of July. Consequent upon their approval NCTB issues work orders. This year NCTB called tenders in 98 lots for printing 11.50 crore text books. One Indian firm was selected as lowest bidder in 55 lots. But later it was found that the Indian firm made forgery in their submitted documents. So, their selection was cancelled. Perhaps, it is assumed, the World Bank became unhappy about this decision. Normally, World Bank clears the files sent to them by NCTB within 2/3 days. But this year they delayed the process for one month and affirmative decision was given by them only for 63 lots. It seems that they are still lobbying for that very Indian establishment.
Due to unfair interference of the World Bank it has already become uncertain to distribute text books free of cost to the primary students in schedule time, i.e. first week of January, 2017. How this complication will be solved is still unknown. The World Bank has worldwide negative reputation as they often interfere in projects funded by them. But our government should not bowdown to undue pressure from any donor agency by crossing the line of due process. Last year NCTB surrendered to pressure of the World Bank and that resulted very poorly in distributing books. If the authority concerned surrenders once again to any undue pressure to serve external interest, then corruption will be internationalised centering Bangladesh, which is not acceptable at all.
It is against our national dignity. So, no compromise should be made in this regard. Already time is lost from the schedule time frame to provide books to the primary students. If the NCTB can hold strongly their rightful stand, then probably there would be no problem in the future.
