TDS Desk:

The government on Tuesday approved a proposal to print, bind, and supply 4,044,2491 textbooks for primary school students in grades 1, 2, and 3 for the 2026 academic year at a cost of Tk 200.91 crore.

The government gave the approval at a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at the Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair.

According to the document of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) invited open tenders for printing and supplying textbooks in both Bengali and English versions in 98 lots.

A total of 182 tenders were submitted, of which 176 were found technically and financially responsive.

Following the evaluation process, 96 lots were awarded to 56 printing companies offering the lowest bids, with the perunit cost of each textbook set at Tk 49.68.

The remaining two lots could not be awarded as both bids for those lots were found non-responsive.

Officials said the initiative is part of the government’s annual free textbook distribution programme to ensure timely delivery of learning materials to primary school students across the country.

The government also approved separate proposals for procuring two cargoes of LNG and two bulk carriers to meet the growing demand for energy and goods transportation in the country.

Following two separate proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Petrobangla would procure one cargo LNG from the spot market through following international quotation method from M/S Aramco Trading Singapore Pte Limited, Singapore with around Tk 502.94 crore with per MMBtu LNG costing $11.97 while Petrobangla would procure one cargo LNG from the spot market through following international quotation method from M/S PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Limited, Singapore with around Tk 484.38 crore where per MMBtu LNG would cost $11.90.

In response to another proposal from the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation would procure two bulk carriers with each having capacity of carrying 55,000-66,000 DWT from Hellenic Dry Bulk Ventures LLC, NY, USA with around Tk 935.71 crore.