Primary and secondary level students on Sunday got new textbooks free of cost as well as celebrated the 'book festival' across the country on the first day of New Year 2023.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni joined the secondary level 'book festival' at Kapasia Government Pilot High School ground in Gazipur and distributed books among the students.
State Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, lawmaker Simeen Hussain (Rimi) and Technical and Madrasah Education Division Senior Secretary Md Kamal Hossain spoke at the function with Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Md Abu Bakr Siddique in the chair.
Addressing the book distribution festival, Dr Dipu Moni said that the government has so far distributed around 434.46 crore of textbooks free of cost since 2010, which helped to decline the school dropout rate remarkably.
She also underscored the need for making the students smart for building 'SMART Bangladesh'.
Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) Director General Professor Nehal Ahmed, Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) Director General Dr Md Omar Faruque, Directorate of Madrasha Education (DME) Director General Habibur Rahman, Gazipur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anisur Rahman, Gazipur District Council Chairman Motahar Hossain Mollah and Kapasia Upazila Chairman Amanat Hossain also spoke at the programme, among others.
Besides, Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Huq joined the 'book festival' at Bangabandhu Government High School at Chandra of Kaliakoir Upazila in Gazipur ad distributed books among the secondary students as the chief guest.
Kaliakoir Upazila Nirbahi Officer presided over the book distribution ceremony.
In the capital, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossen joined the 'book distribution ceremony' as the chief guest and distributed books among primary students at Dhaka University (DU) Central Playground.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Primary and Mass Education Ministry Mostafizur Rahman addressed the festival as special guest while Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) organized it with Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed in the chair.
Speaking on the occasion, Zakir Hossen said that at the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government is providing textbooks at free of cost since 2010.
In 2023, over 9.66 lakh textbooks will be distributed among around 2.20 crore pre-primary and primary level students across the country, he added.
Alongside the book distribution, SAFF football tournament winning five members of Bangladesh Women Football Team, who came from Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Primary School Tournament, were accorded reception in the function.
Source: BSS