The cost of printing textbooks for fourth and fifth grades at the primary level for the 2026 academic year is set to increase by Tk23.67 crore due to additional printing requirements for 94 lots covering 36.29 million copies.
The additional expenditure will raise the total contract value by around 12.65 percent to Tk210.78 crore.
The proposal was recommended for approval at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase held on Thursday (November 12), chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
According to meeting sources, a total of 98 lots were initially arranged for printing textbooks for fourth and fifth grades for the 2026 academic year. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education subsequently proposed variations in 94 lots to accommodate additional printing forms.
Under the proposal, the original contract value for printing the textbooks was Tk187.10 crore. An additional Tk23.67 crore is being added, bringing the revised contract value to Tk210.78 crore.
The ministry's proposal covers additional printing forms for 36,290,792 copies of textbooks under the 94 lots. Various printing companies have been considered as recommended bidders for the work.
After reviewing the proposal, the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase recommended it for approval.
The additional expenditure represents approximately 12.65 percent of the original contract value, significantly increasing the government's spending on textbooks for fourth and fifth-grade students.
