DHAKA, Oct 22, 2025 (BSS) - The government is all set to move forward with the printing, binding and supply of some 12.53 crore textbooks free of cost for the secondary students under the 2026 academic session.

The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase today gave approvals to three major procurement proposals placed by the Secondary and Higher Education Division in this regard.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today virtually chaired the 42nd meeting of the purchase committee in this year.

According to Cabinet Division officials, the proposals cover the printing of textbooks for students of classes six, seven and eight across secondary schools, Dakhil madrasahs and technical education institutions - in both Bangla and English versions.

For the Class Six textbooks, the total estimated procurement cost stands at Taka 137.87 crore, under which a total of more than 4.36 crore copies of textbooks will be printed by 77 selected firms out of 98 bids submitted.

Similarly, for the Class Seven textbooks, the government plans to spend Taka 150.01 crore to print more than 4.15 crore copies, to be produced by 91 firms chosen from among 100 bidders.

Meanwhile, the Class Eight textbooks will involve a printing contract worth Taka 156.92 crore, covering more than 4.02 crore copies to be printed by 90 firms, also selected through a competitive bidding process.

All three proposals were placed by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education.

Upon scrutiny, the committee reviewed the cost structures, tendering process, and volume of work for each grade before recommending the proposals for approval.

Every year, the government prints and distributes crores of free textbooks to schoolchildren across the country to ensure access to education and prevent dropouts. 

The timely printing and distribution of these books ahead of each academic year remains a key priority for the Ministry of Education alongside the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.