Around 4.26 crore school children across the country today celebrated the Textbook Festival receiving books free of cost for their new classes on the first day of the New Year.
This year, a total of 35,21,97,882 copies of textbooks were distributed among 4,26,19,865 students of pre-primary, primary, ebtedayee, secondary, Dakhil and vocational institutions for the 2019 academic year, reports BSS.
“We want to grow up our children in a way so that they can develop their skills, become eligible as well as efficient in ICT,” Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said joining one of the major ceremonies held at capital’s Azimpur Govt. Girls High School and College.
At the function, Nahid distributed new textbooks among the students of 10 educational institutions.
Students were seen delighted to get their new textbooks as the textbook distribution festivity adds a new dimension to their ecstasy on the New Year day.
Hundreds of school children wearing school uniforms were seen with their guardians at the Central Playground of Dhaka University holding new textbooks at another festival.
Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar inaugurated the book distribution festival over cell phone.
“Our students will be more perseverant in their studies after getting new books. I hope that they will turn our country into a self reliant nation fulfilling the government’s expectation and become a worthy person for the whole world,” said the Minister.
“Our government started this book distribution festival first in 2010 while Awami League came to the power. We will continue the book festival to build a prosperous Bangladesh,” Mostafizur added.
Prominent educationist and writer Professor Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, noted writer and journalist Anisul Hoque, Cricket star Shakib Al Hasan and Primary and Mass Education Secretary Md Akram-Al-Hossain distributed books among some school children at the programme.
Azmain Mridha, a Class-III student of BGB Model Government Primary School, came to the playground with his father in the morning to get his new books.
“I am very much delighted as I am going get my new books. I want to be a police officer in future,” said Azmain.
A good number of differently abled children also got opportunities to have their new books at the programme.
A cultural programme was also took place at the event.