NCTB sources say that the demand for textbooks is determined almost a year in advance. At that time, educational institutions estimate the demand based on estimated student numbers. However, these estimates often do not match reality and exceed actual requirements.
Previously, such demand was not fully verified, resulting in overprinting and unused books. However, since last year, the NCTB has increased scrutiny in determining demand, with officials conducting field-level investigations in some areas.
According to NCTB sources, the demand for free distribution at the secondary level this year was more than Rs 213.767 million (Rs 21.3767 crore). The following year this figure increased to 223.23 million (223,230,318) copies. Suspecting irregularities in this unusual increase, NCTB formed 34 teams to verify the data on the ground.
Verification revealed evidence of increased demand. An NCTB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that during a visit to an area in Dhaka, he found a large stock of books – some from the last three years – stored in the warehouse of a secondary education officer’s office.