Free textbooks distribution successful: Nahid

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has expressed satisfaction for successfully handing over textbooks to millions of students across Bangladesh at the beginning of the new year despite volatile political situation and the Opposition's agitations.

"Our days have changed and we are no more in the 2009-10 period," an elated Nahid said claiming such endeavour is 'rare' in the world.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the festival to distribute textbooks among students of primary and secondary level on Wednesday.

Nahid said many had termed him crazy stating that distributing textbooks for free was not possible in Bangladesh. "But we did," he said speaking at the capital's Government Laboratory High School grounds on Thursday.

Over 43.3 million books have been distributed for free among students of primary, ebtedayee, secondary, dakhil and vocational school in the 2014 session.

The minister said in between 2010 and 2014 over 1.21 billion textbooks had been distributed among 160 million primary and secondary-level students.

"In the past three months, we could not take classes and tests properly [due to Opposition-enforced shutdowns and blockades]. Students were under immense mental pressure and could not study properly. But despite everything, they successfully passed their tests," Nahid said.

He said distributing books amid nonstop shutdowns, blockades and political violence was a difficult task. "I'm really happy," he said, "that we have handed over books to the students at the right time."

The minister distributed books among the students after his speech.

Apart from the Government Laboratory School, students of BCSIR High School, Dhanmondi Government High School, Kamrunessa Government Girls High School, and Hafez Abdur Razzaq Dhakil Madrasa also got new books.