Textbook Festival would be celebrated today in all schools and madrassahs across the nation for the distribution of free books to students by the government.
It would be for the third consecutive year that the ministries of education as well as primary and mass education took the plan to celebrate the festival for free distribution of 270 million text books among 37 million students of primary and secondary schools and on the very first day of the new academic year, spanning January and December.
This year, the government plans to distribute the textbooks, covering the new curriculum.
Government officials said the textbooks for free distribution already reached the educational institutions.
New Age correspondents, however, reported that some of the secondary schools in Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Jhalokathi, Pirojpur Jhenaidah, Comilla and Thakurgaon and others part of the country did not get some of the books until Monday evening.
In the capital, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday gave away free books to pre-primary, primary and secondary school students at a function at Ganabhaban, her official residence, kicking off the celebration.
She said the standard and quality of education had improved a lot since her government began free textbook distribution among the learners up to the secondary level.
Today, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid and primary and mass education minister Afsarul Ameen would give away free books to students at separate functions in the capital.
New Age Barisal correspondent reported about 50 per cent of the textbooks for the secondary schools were yet to reach the schools in six districts-- Barisal, Patuakhali, Barguna, Bhola, Jhalokathi and Pirojpur
Secondary and Higher Education deputy director in Barisal division Mustafizur Rahman said, out of 6,885,534 copies of the textbooks  needed in six districts in Barisal division 3,5 65,167 or 51.77 per cent of the copies were distributed until December 31.
Primary education officials in the division said many primary school of Agailjhara upazila in Barisal district were yet to get all the textbooks the students needed.
New Age Jhenaidah correspondent reported quoting district education officer Maksudul Alam that about 50 per cent of the required textbooks for secondary levels were yet to reach the district.
The district’s secondary school students need 1,563, 000 text books.
New Age Thakurgaon correspondent reports that Thakurgaon district education officer Fazle Alam said about 31 per cent of the required textbooks for secondary levels were yet to reach the district.
The district has a demand of 15.70 lakh text book for secondary level students.
New Age Comilla correspondent reports that Comilla district education officer Abdur Rashid said that about 17 per cent of the required textbooks for secondary levels were yet to reach.
The district has a demand of 55.70 lakh text book for secondary level students.
New Age Barisal correspondent reports that many primary school of Agailjhara upazila of Barisal district yet to get required number of textbooks.
When contacted, National Curriculum and Textbook Board chairman Mostafa Kamaluddin told New Age that the required number of textbooks reached every corner of the country.
He said there might be some insignificant mistakes ‘but by and large we have delivered textbooks to every corner of the country.’ ‘Some books might be on the way,’ he added.   
Of the total 270 million books, around 108 million textbooks will be distributed among the primary school students, 17 million books among Ibtedayi, 115 million books among secondary school students, 20.6 million books among Dhakhil students and 1.3 million books among vocational students.