The Election Commission has approved the celebration of the "Book Festival" on January 1, 2024 but with a notable restriction – political figures are prohibited from attending due to the upcoming national elections.
The event, which marks the distribution of new school textbooks across the country, will not feature a grand ceremony. Despite the Election Commission's consent for the Ministry of Education to conduct the new book distribution program (Boi Utsav) on January 1, 2024, the occasion will be a routine affair without the involvement of political personalities.
Md Atiar Rahman, deputy secretary of the Election Commission, confirmed this in a recent letter, stating, "As it is a routine work of the government to distribute new textbooks across the country on the first day of the academic year on January 1, 2024, like in the previous years, the EC has given its consent to celebrate the program."
The distribution of new books during an "ordinary" ceremony will be carried out by local Divisional Commissioners, District Commissioners (DCs), Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), and heads of educational institutions.
Farhadul Islam, Chairman of the Textbook and Curriculum Board (NCTB), clarified to journalists that despite the Election Commission's approval, political figures are barred from attending the "Book Festival" on January 1st. This decision remains unchanged even though the event was initially planned to be a centralized gathering.
Sources reveal that the Ministry of Education's "Book Festival" at Suaganj Tafajjal Ahmed Chowdhury High School and College in Sadar Dakshin Upazila of Comilla District has secured approval from the Election Commission, but it is not an isolated case. The government's routine tasks, including the book distribution program, will proceed as scheduled.
Since 2010, the government has marked the first day of the academic year by distributing free books to primary and secondary school students, except during the COVID-19 period. The tradition involves students joyfully receiving new books, and with the Election Commission's approval, the book festival is slated to occur on January 1.
According to NCTB sources, there are over 9 crores, 38 lakh books at the primary level and more than 21 crores, 32 lakh books at the secondary level this year ready for distribution.