Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Aug 6, 2026 (BSS) - The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) today approved several proposals involving the printing, binding and supply of free textbooks for primary, Ebtedayee, secondary, Dakhil and technical education levels for the 2027 academic year. 

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting held at the Cabinet Division at Bangladesh Secretariat today.

The committee gave the approval of a proposal from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education for printing, binding and supplying textbooks for students of Classes I to V under 106 lots out of 110 tenders. 

Under the proposal, 7.35 crore copies of textbooks will be printed through 63 selected institutions at a cost of Tk 404.02 crore. 

The committee also approved a proposal from the Secondary and Higher Education Division for printing, binding and supplying free textbooks for Ebtedayee level (Classes I to V). 

The proposal involves printing 3.18 crore copies of textbooks through 35 institutions under 35 tenders at a cost of Tk 153.91 crore.
 
Besides, the committee recommended approval of separate proposals for printing textbooks for Class VI and Class VII students under the secondary, Dakhil and technical education streams. 

The Class VI textbook printing proposal covers Bangla and English versions of secondary-level books, Dakhil and technical education books. 

Under the proposal, 4.11 crore copies of textbooks will be printed through 63 institutions under 70 tenders at a cost of Tk 183.58 crore. 

For Class VII, the committee recommended approval of a proposal involving printing, binding and supply of 3.84 crore copies of textbooks through 59 institutions under 69 tenders. 
The cost of the Class VII textbook printing proposal is Tk 206.59 crore. 

The CCGP approved the proposals following recommendations from the relevant authorities to ensure timely supply of free textbooks among students ahead of the 2027 academic year. 

The day's meeting also approved a proposal to revise the coal price mechanism for a coal-fired power plant in Banshkhali, Chattogram and the 307MW Barishal Electric Power Company Limited (BEPC) plant.

The proposal was placed by the Power Division and involves SS Power-I Ltd, which operates a coal-based power plant at Banshkhali in Chattogram, and Barishal Electric Power Company Limited.

According to the proposal, the estimated fuel payment for SS Power-I Ltd under the revised coal price mechanism is around Tk 1,44,250 crore, while the fuel payment for BEPCL is estimated at around Tk 32,724 crore.

The CCGP recommended approval of the proposal after reviewing the revised mechanism for coal pricing applicable to the two power plants.

The committee's decision is expected to facilitate the continued operation of the plants by ensuring a revised framework for coal supply costs and related fuel payments.
Meanwhile, the CCGP meeting approved several price variation proposals.