Printing of NCTB textbooks halted

Association wants demands fulfilled

At least 140 printing presses of the country have stopped printing National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) books for three days, as their demands have not been met. This has led to uncertainty over the distribution of books in time. The NCTB said the demands of the Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh have no basis. The presses have to supply the books in accordance with the standards of the international tender.

Association sources said the presses are observing work abstention, which would continue till the demands are met. They alleged that a syndicate within the NCTB is against printing all books from the primary to the secondary level in the country. Instead, they want them to be printed in other countries like India.

The sources claimed that they have the technology of international standards to print books, as the industry is paying special attention to its growth and survival. They also alleged that the NCTB has supplied them wrong CDs containing soft copies of Ebtedayee books instead of primary general books. When the matter came to their knowledge after four to five days, they asked the NCTB to give them some additional time as compensation for supplying wrong CDs. The NCTB instead issued letters on September 6, asking them about the progress of printing books. But the printing had not started till then.

The sources said that the NCTB has told them to supply books with proper wrapping papers. This is not possible within the shortest possible time. The tender mentions about wrapping books based on mutual discussion, they added.

Now the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has told the presses that 10 per cent of their bills would be deducted, but the DPE is not the authority to do it, the sources told The Independent.

Moreover, the association sources requested the NCTB not to give the work of newly amended books at the secondary level to printing presses that do not have any experience. They said if those printing presses fail to supply the books, it will tarnish the image of the whole industry. But the NCTB has not black listed the presses, they added.

“We are observing work abstention for three days. Nothing has been resolved. We want our demands fulfilled,” association chairman Tofayel Khan told The Independent yesterday (Thursday).

“We know a syndicate is working within the NCTB that wants us to fail in terms of supplying the books. If the books are printed in other countries, this group can gain a lot. But now they cannot do it,” he alleged.

However, NCTB chairman Narayan Chandra Pal brushed aside all the allegations. “We have not given wrong CDs. They have to supply books with proper packaging as per international standards.  ”  

About the work abstention, Pal said: “It will not cause any problem. We will be able to distribute the books in time. Besides, this deadlock will not continue for ever.” He said they would hold meetings with all, including education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, soon to resolve the crisis. He also said they have full faith in the printing industry and believe that it would come to the negotiating table. This year, the NCTB has started working on printing 35 crore textbooks so that it can distribute them in the beginning of 2018.

Printing of NCTB textbooks halted

Association wants demands fulfilled

At least 140 printing presses of the country have stopped printing National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) books for three days, as their demands have not been met. This has led to uncertainty over the distribution of books in time. The NCTB said the demands of the Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh have no basis. The presses have to supply the books in accordance with the standards of the international tender. Association sources said the presses are observing work abstention, which would continue till the demands are met. They alleged that a syndicate within the NCTB is against printing all books from the primary to the secondary level in the country. Instead, they want them to be printed in other countries like India. The sources claimed that they have the technology of international standards to print books, as the industry is paying special attention to its growth and survival. They also alleged that the NCTB has supplied them wrong CDs containing soft copies of Ebtedayee books instead of primary general books. When the matter came to their knowledge after four to five days, they asked the NCTB to give them some additional time as compensation for supplying wrong CDs. The NCTB instead issued letters on September 6, asking them about the progress of printing books. But the printing had not started till then. The sources said that the NCTB has told them to supply books with proper wrapping papers. This is not possible within the shortest possible time. The tender mentions about wrapping books based on mutual discussion, they added. Now the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has told the presses that 10 per cent of their bills would be deducted, but the DPE is not the authority to do it, the sources told The Independent. Moreover, the association sources requested the NCTB not to give the work of newly amended books at the secondary level to printing presses that do not have any experience. They said if those printing presses fail to supply the books, it will tarnish the image of the whole industry. But the NCTB has not black listed the presses, they added. We are observing work abstention for three days. Nothing has been resolved. We want our demands fulfilled, association chairman Tofayel Khan told The Independent yesterday (Thursday). We know a syndicate is working within the NCTB that wants us to fail in terms of supplying the books. If the books are printed in other countries, this group can gain a lot. But now they cannot do it, he alleged. However, NCTB chairman Narayan Chandra Pal brushed aside all the allegations. We have not given wrong CDs. They have to supply books with proper packaging as per international standards. About the work abstention, Pal said: It will not cause any problem. We will be able to distribute the books in time. Besides, this deadlock will not continue for ever. He said they would hold meetings with all, including education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, soon to resolve the crisis. He also said they have full faith in the printing industry and believe that it would come to the negotiating table. This year, the NCTB has started working on printing 35 crore textbooks so that it can distribute them in the beginning of 2018.