NCTB serves show-cause notice on Infinity over substandard paper

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has served a show-cause notice on Infinity Survey and Inspection BD for allegedly approving the use of substandard paper in printing primary-level textbooks for the 2027 academic year.

Printing and binding of free textbooks for students are currently underway. Infinity Survey and Inspection BD was appointed to inspect the quality of nearly 90 million primary textbooks, including paper, binding and cutting.

The NCTB has also appointed Independent Inspection Services BD to inspect the quality of secondary and Ebtedayee textbooks.

The show-cause notice, signed by NCTB Secretary Shah Mohammad Al Ferdous, asked Infinity to submit its written response within three working days.

According to the notice, a delegation from the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Education Ministry inspected the Government Press in Amulia, Dhaka, on August 30. The delegation found pre-primary textbooks being printed alongside prohibited note and guidebooks.

It also found paper rolls of different qualities, including newsprint, stored in a disorganised manner. The inspection reportedly found evidence that paper below the specified quality was being used to print pre-primary textbooks.

The notice said randomly selected printed sheets were tested and their GSM values were found to range from 72 to 82, including 72, 76, 77, 79, 81 and 82.

Testing of unused paper rolls certified by Infinity also found variations in GSM values, according to the notice. It further said the PDI representative was present but appeared to have been negligent in carrying out his responsibilities.

The notice said that if negligence of duty and inaction by the monitoring representative were established, action could be taken under the tender documents and the Public Procurement Rules (PPR), 2025, including cancellation of the work order.

Infinity Survey and Inspection BD Managing Director Mohammad Sirajim Munir, however, said he had not received the show-cause notice.

“I have not received any show-cause letter. Perhaps someone at the office received it and replied. I do not know about it,” he said.

He added that he had informed an NCTB member about the Government Press incident before the Education Ministry sent its letter.

NCTB Secretary Shah Mohammad Al Ferdous and two other officials confirmed that the show-cause notice had been issued to Infinity Survey and Inspection BD.

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