Tk 2.52b extra cost alleged in textbook printing

The procurement process for printing free textbooks for the 2027 academic year has come under scrutiny following allegations of confidential price leaks, possible collusion among printing contractors and an estimated Tk 2.52 billion in additional costs.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) conducted an enforcement drive at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Motijheel, Dhaka, on October 6 to examine the allegations and collect relevant documents.

ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Md Tanzir Ahmed said the enforcement team collected preliminary cost estimates, official price lists, minutes of the NCTB's 423rd board meeting and other records. The documents will be examined before a comprehensive report is submitted to the commission.

The allegations centre on whether confidential cost estimates were leaked before the tender process, whether the subsequent revision of printing rates was justified and whether contractors competed fairly for government orders.

According to published investigative reports, 75 printing industry owners submitted applications seeking an increase in the estimated printing rates. The minutes of the NCTB's 423rd board meeting reportedly refer to a decision to revise the rates following their request.

The circumstances surrounding the revision have raised questions about the basis for the decision, the market data used to determine printing costs and the potential impact on public expenditure. However, neither the rate revision nor the contractors' request alone establishes corruption. The allegations require verification through procurement documents, financial records and explanations from the authorities concerned.

Published reports indicate that the average rate under work orders for printing secondary-level textbooks increased from Tk 2.31 per form in 2026 to Tk 3.32 in 2027, a rise of approximately 44 per cent.

Citing NCTB data, the reports said around 2.5 million reams of paper had been estimated for printing secondary-level textbooks for 2027. The reported increase in rates has raised concerns about additional expenditure exceeding Tk 2.5 billion for secondary textbooks alone.

The government plans to print approximately 310 million textbooks for primary and secondary students for the 2027 academic year, with estimated expenditure reportedly reaching Tk 19 billion.

Given the scale of the programme, even a relatively small change in unit costs could have a substantial impact on the public budget.

The NCTB authorities need to explain the rationale for revising the rates, the approval process and the measures taken to protect confidential tender information. Board members involved in the decision and printing companies participating in the procurement process should also be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.