Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar spoke as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the textbook distribution programme at Abul Bashar Government Primary School in Dhaka. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar today said primary-level students received 100 percent of textbooks on the first day of the new year.

He said it has been possible to distribute cent percent of textbooks among the students of every government primary school in Bangladesh at the beginning of the new year. 

"The quality of these books is definitely better than before," the primary and mass education adviser said while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the textbook distribution programme at Abul Bashar Government Primary School in Dhaka.

Addressing the guardians present at the textbook distribution programme, he said a guardian guidelines book is being prepared to improve the quality of primary education, which will be handed over to them soon.

Stating that there is no alternative to quality primary education, Dr Bidhan Ranjan said the main goal of primary education is to make children literate. 

"If we can teach children to read correctly at the primary level, then later they will be able to learn through reading. If we can ensure the development of primary education involving all, it will have a positive impact on higher level education," he said.

Director General of the Department of Primary Education Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman presided over the ceremony, while Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Abu Taher Md Masud Rana and Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Dr Md Abdul Latif spoke as special guests. 

Students and guardians were present.

Later, the adviser participated in the book distribution programme at Nalanda High School in Chhayanaut Sanskriti Bhaban, Dhaka.