Printing presses tied up to execute Tk 942cr orders

The printing presses are on the go to produce some 35 crore textbooks for the new academic year as the business is back on the rails overcoming the pandemic effects.

Sources said the presses are bustling with Tk 942-crore work order to complete within a stipulated time.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) says in the pre-primary teaching package, 16 institutions filed tenders against six work orders worth over Tk 36 crore. Of the 16, five were awarded the printing work.

For Primary Category (Grade 1 and Grade 2), 75 institutions made 247 bids against 98 lots worth over Tk 49 crore in which only six institutions got the work of 26 lots. The remaining 72 lots were brought under retender for which 41 firms filed 302 tenders, of which 22 got the work order.

For Primary Category (Grade 3 to Grade 5), 71 enterprises filed 274 tenders against 98 lots totaling a cost of over Tk 182 crore in which the work for 52 lots was awarded. The remaining 46 lots had retender. A total of 71 firms filed 301 tenders, of which 22 got the work order.

In Ethnic Group Category, four institutions filed tender against a single lot worth Tk over 64 lakh.

For Secondary Level Category (Grade 6 and 7, Dakhil 6 and 7), 101 institutions filed 426 tenders against 208 lots worth over Tk 261 crore. Only 20 lots got the work permit. The remaining 188 lots were brought under retender. Some 125 enterprises made 605 bids in which more than 70 enterprises got the tender to complete the work.

In Secondary Level Category (Grade 8 and 9, Dakhil 8 and 9), 234 applicants filed 659 tenders against 280 lots worth over Tk 261 crore in which only 32 lots got work permit while the remaining 188 lots faced retender. Some 203 institutions made 821 bids in which more than 80 bidders got 185 work orders, and no tender had been filed against 3 lots which went under retender. 29 institutions filed 54 retenders against the three lots.

Mohammad Zahurul Islam, general secretary to Bangladesh Mudran Shilpa Samity said: “We have 1,500 members and about four lakh people are involved in the printing business. Per year, the sector sees a Tk 4,000-crore business.”

The association says now is the peak season and guide books are being printed for the upcoming academic year.

“Some unscrupulous NCTB officials are involved in tender. If their preferred bidders lose, they call for retender,” said the sector people. Due to delay in work permit, free textbook distribution among primary and secondary pupils may face setback.

According to the NCTB, under the purview of 208 lots, textbooks for Grade 6 and 7 and Grade 1 and 2 students will be printed while that of 280 lots, textbooks will be in print for Grade 8 and 9 and Grade 3, 4 and 5 students.

A total of 488 lots were announced for tender where 436 lots were brought under retender due to over rate. Sources said every year over 30 to 40 per cent textbook work orders are awarded within October but this year it is too late.

As per the government work order rules, the printer owners will get 28 days to sign an agreement after getting work order. Following the agreement, they will have 84 days in hand for printing Grade 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 textbooks and 70 days for Grade 1, 2, 6 and 7 textbooks.

“Earlier every year our deadline remains December but this year this is February according to the government work order,” a press owner said.

“As per my assumption, we cannot handover textbooks within January because the total work might take February next year,” another printing press owner said seeking anonymity.

NCTB Chairman Professor Narayan Chandra Saha explained that every year so far 50 per cent textbooks reach upazilas, but this year some difficulties have arisen due to retendering of 436 lots.

“Every year we have had surplus time but this year we are running out of time,” he said.

“Still we are optimistic that within December we will be able to send textbooks for new academic year to all educational institutions.”

According to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, a total of 34,71,39,646 textbooks will be distributed – 9,99,73,210 for primary level and 24,71,63,256 for secondary level students.