Students across the country will receive their full set of new primary-level textbooks at the very beginning of January, as printing of revised curriculum books is nearly complete, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar said on Saturday.

He confirmed that most books have already reached district-level storage facilities and unlike previous years, there will be no formal book distribution festival—textbooks will instead be delivered directly to every school.

Speaking to journalists after a stakeholder meeting on improving the quality of primary education at Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre, Dr Poddar emphasised the importance of teacher accountability.

“A person who does not fulfil their primary responsibilities cannot be called a teacher,” he said, adding that educators who perform their duties with sincerity deserve full respect and support in securing their rightful demands.

The meeting was chaired by Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Abdul Mannan, with speeches from Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Directorate of Primary Education Director General Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman, and others.