Education Minister Makes Midnight Press Visits to Check Books

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan made surprise visits to six printing presses in Dhaka after midnight to inspect the quality of textbooks being printed for free distribution among students.

The minister visited the presses shortly after midnight on Monday, September 28, to assess the progress of textbook printing and verify whether the required quality standards were being maintained.

During the visits, he inspected different stages of the printing process, including the quality of paper, printing standards and other aspects of textbook production. Officials from the Education Ministry accompanied him during the inspections.

The government prints and distributes a large number of textbooks free of charge to students every year. Ensuring that the books meet the prescribed specifications, including paper and printing quality, is considered essential.

The ministry has recently placed greater emphasis on textbook quality following concerns over the standard of books being printed for free distribution. Earlier this month, authorities rejected large quantities of textbooks over poor printing quality and seized low-quality ink from two printing presses.

During the latest inspections, the minister asked officials and representatives of the printing presses about the quality of paper and ink being used and the overall standard of the books.

Ministry officials said ensuring that students receive quality textbooks on time is one of the government's key responsibilities. The government has also set a target for printing and supplying the 2027 textbooks before the start of the new academic year.

The minister's unannounced late-night inspections are part of efforts to monitor printing activities directly and ensure that contracted presses follow the required specifications and production standards.

Officials said monitoring of printing houses would continue to ensure compliance with the prescribed standards and facilitate the timely delivery of textbooks to students.