3 held with 19,000 free textbooks amid distribution crisis
As the first month of the New Year ends with many students still waiting for their textbooks, police and detectives have uncovered a large-scale black-market operation involving government-provided schoolbooks meant for free distribution.
In separate drives, law enforcement arrested three individuals and seized a total of 19,000 textbooks intended for primary and secondary school students. The books, meant for classes 1 to 10, were found stored in warehouses and loaded onto trucks for illegal sale.
Two arrested in Dhaka with 10,000 textbooks
The Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) conducted raids on Wednesday (January 22) at several warehouses in Ispahani Gali, Banglabazar, Sutrapur, and seized two truckloads of textbooks. The confiscated books, worth approximately Tk 8 lakh, included materials for primary and secondary students.
DB South Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam stated at a press conference on Thursday (January 23) that two suspects, Sirajul Islam Ujjal, 55, and Delwar Hossain, 56, were arrested. The suspects were allegedly part of a gang hoarding free government textbooks to sell them in the open market.
Nasirul Islam revealed that Ujjal had been previously arrested on similar charges a decade ago and had been purchasing textbooks for Tk 10-12 each and reselling them for Tk 80-85. “Further investigations are underway, and we’ve identified other members of this operation,” he added.
The DB is also investigating whether unauthorized extra textbooks were printed or if anyone from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) or related authorities is involved. Nasirul Islam confirmed that the seized books will be handed over to the NCTB following court directives.
Sherpur seizure: 9,000 textbooks intercepted
In a separate operation in Sherpur, police arrested Maidul Islam, 32 and seized 9,000 textbooks from a truck in Dhatiapara, Charmocharia Union. The intercepted books, intended for classes VIII, IX, and X of the 2025 academic year, were being smuggled from Roumari CG Zaman High School in Kurigram.
Sherpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Aminul Islam reported that the operation was conducted based on intelligence from the National Security Intelligence (NSI). “The destination of the books is unclear at this stage, but interrogation of the arrested suspect is ongoing,” said SP Aminul.
Textbook crisis and authorities' response
Despite government assurances, many students are yet to receive their textbooks, prompting concerns amid reports of large-scale smuggling. The NCTB stated that 10 crore out of 41 crore textbooks had been distributed by early January, with the remaining books expected to be delivered by January 30.
In the interim, students have been advised to use PDF versions of textbooks available on the NCTB website. Authorities have intensified efforts to curb the illegal trade, with mobile courts and law enforcement conducting regular operations.
The Ministry of Education has expressed its determination to address the irregularities and ensure that all students receive their textbooks. Meanwhile, investigations into potential systemic failures and collusion within the distribution network are ongoing.
