The first day of the English New Year began with the joyful distribution of new textbooks among schoolchildren in all the districts including Bogura, Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Narayanganj, and Rajbari.
The school students welcomed the fresh academic year with excitement and smiles.
BOGURA: Students from most classes received their new textbooks, except for grades six and eight, whose books are expected to arrive soon, according to education authorities. Although formal ceremonies were not held in many institutions, books were distributed either directly at counters or by arranging students in queues.
Due to dense winter fog, many parents came to school on behalf of their children to collect the books. Officials said primary schools in the district received all required textbooks, and students expressed joy after receiving the new books.
COX'S BAZAR: Pre-primary and primary school students in Cox's Bazar expressed great excitement as they received new textbooks on the very first day of the New Year. However, students at secondary schools and madrasas are yet to receive their full set of books.
On Thursday, visits to Ghonapara, Boilapara, and Kolatoli areas of the town, along with reports from all upazilas of the district, revealed that students of government and non-government pre-primary and primary schools have already received all of their textbooks at the beginning of the academic year. In contrast, secondary and madrasa students have so far received partial books and are still waiting for the remaining ones.
Umme Salma, a third-grade student of Burmese Government Primary School in Cox's Bazar town, said, "I received all my books, including Bangla and English. I feel very happy. All of us are really excited to get new books."
However, Nazmul Hasan, a seventh-grade student of Baharchhara School, shared a different experience. "I have received only three books so far. Teachers said the remaining books will be given later. It would have felt better if we could get all the books at once," he said.
District Primary Education Officer Shahin Mia said a total of 6,20,368 textbooks have been distributed among students of 658 government pre-primary and primary schools as well as kindergartens across the district. "We have completed 100 percent textbook distribution at the primary level. Students are very happy after receiving their new books," he added.
Meanwhile, Cox's Bazar District Secondary Education Officer Mohammad Golam Mostafa said the National Curriculum and Textbook Board has not yet been able to supply all textbooks for secondary-level students. However, efforts are underway to ensure that no student remains without books. "Distribution is continuing in phases," he said.
Currently, Cox's Bazar district has 10 government secondary schools, 135 non-government secondary schools, 70 lower secondary schools, and 147 madrasa institutions at the secondary level, he added.
KHULNA: School students were delighted to receive new textbooks on the very first day of the year as the distribution began on Thursday morning across primary and secondary educational institutions, though no formal inauguration ceremony was held in Khulna.
Textbooks were distributed classroom to classroom at primary and secondary schools in the city.
However, not all institutions were able to distribute 100 per cent of the books on the first day.
At Government Coronation Girls' School in Khulna City, students from classes III to VI received all their textbooks, while students of classes VIII, IX and X received them partially. No textbooks for Class VII have yet reached the school authorities.
Students expressed their joy at receiving new books on the first day of the year, saying it was a special experience.
"The smell of new books is different. We will look through the books today and start studying from tomorrow," some students said, adding that receiving books at the beginning of the year motivates them to study better and perform well in examinations.
According to the District Primary Education Office, primary-level students in Khulna have received 100 per cent of their textbooks.
However, in secondary, madrasa and technical institutions, the demand was 28.18 lakh textbooks for around 2, 44,000 students, against which about 18.50 lakh books have been distributed so far--around 66 per cent of the total requirement.
At the divisional level, there remains a shortage of approximately 63.52 lakh textbooks across 10 districts of Khulna division, making it impossible to distribute all new books to every student on the first day of the year.
Sources said that in 3,019 educational institutions (schools and madrasas) under the Secondary and Higher Education Khulna region, the total demand was 2.12 crore textbooks, while 1.48 crore books have arrived so far, leaving a shortfall of about 63.52 lakh.
Khulna District Primary Education Officer Sheikh Ahidul Alam said, all primary-level textbooks have reached the schools and there is no shortage at that level.
"Distribution of textbooks at all primary schools started from Thursday. As it was a day of mourning, no festive programme was arranged, but students received their books," he added.
NARAYANGANJ: The district witnessed a festive atmosphere as thousands of students received free textbooks on the first morning of the New Year. From early Thursday, both government and private institutions celebrated the occasion with students, teachers and parents gathering in school premises. Many students expressed delight at receiving their new books on the very first day of the year.
Education officials said the timely distribution of textbooks plays a vital role in keeping students motivated and improving education quality. Narayanganj District Primary Education Officer Ferdousi Begum said 9,78,586 textbooks were distributed among students in 987 primary schools. Acting District Education Officer Md Atiqur Rahman said 22,71,014 books were distributed across 524 secondary, ebtedayee and madrasa institutions.
Like the rest of the country, Narayanganj, Bogura and Rajbari turned the first day of the year into a celebration of learning, as children embraced a hopeful start to the new academic session.
RAJBARI: The day carried a special emotional appeal for both children and parents, as many mothers wrapped their children in warm winter clothes and accompanied them to school for their first day in a new class. Third-grader Rokibul Hasan shared his excitement after receiving the books and heading home happily.
Rajbari Sadar Upazila Education Officer Fakir Nurul Islam formally handed over textbooks to students at Basantapur Government Primary School on Thursday morning.
Pangksha Upazila Primary Education Officer Sifun Nahar said she successfully distributed 100 per cent of the required books to students in her upazila.
Pangksha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rifatul Haque said that despite the sombre mood in the area due to recent grief, the authorities prioritised delivering books directly to children to ensure they did not miss the joy of the occasion.
District Primary Education Officer Md Tabibur Rahman informed that a total of 6,49,654 textbooks have been distributed among 1,55,755 students across the five upazilas of the district.
RANGAMATI: Following the nationwide practice, mother tongue books have been distributed among students from the Chakma, Marma, and Tripura communities in the hill district of Rangamati, alongside the regular curriculum books.
On Thursday morning, Rangamati Zilla Parishad Chairman Kajal Talukder distributed books at the Banrupa Model Government Primary School in the district town. Students from the hill communities received books in their respective mother tongues along with the standard books.
The District Primary Education Office reported that 27,801 Chakma, Marma, and Tripura students across the district's ten upazilas have received 100 per cent of their respective mother tongue books at their own schools.
Meanwhile, students and parents in the hills are elated to receive mother tongue books in the new year. Parents stated, "We are very happy that our children have received books in their own language. However, the schools still lack properly trained teachers for this. Mother tongue education is very important. Many of us parents also cannot speak or write our mother tongue properly, so learning it is certainly necessary."
The Directorate of Primary Education has been distributing these specific books to Chakma, Marma, and Tripura students in the hill areas since 2017.
Sources at the Rangamati District Primary Education Office indicate that 62,426 books have been distributed among the 27,801 students. This includes 13,134 books for pre-primary, 20,880 for first grade, 21,207 for second grade, and 7,205 for third grade.
District Primary Education Officer Md. Kafil Uddin said, "The mother tongue books introduced by the government for the hill districts have reached us 100 per cent, and the books have been delivered to the respective schools. Today, 100 per cent of the books have been distributed among the ethnic minority students in the hills."
He further added, "With the support of the Hill District Council, we have discussed training teachers in their respective mother tongues with the Zilla Parishad Chairman, aiming to provide mother tongue education for the ethnic minority students. The Chairman has assured that the Zilla Parishad will take the initiative to arrange training for teachers in their respective mother tongues."
