Mountain of corruption in NCTB: Grand loot of Tk 2,711 crore in one year

Special Representative

Sensational information has emerged that even a sensitive and nationally important process like the distribution of free textbooks has become a breeding ground for corruption. A recent investigation report by the Education Audit Department has found that a huge amount of financial irregularities have taken place behind the scenes of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), the institution responsible for printing free books for students in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The audit department has identified unprecedented corruption and financial losses of Tk 2,711 crore 20 lakh 12,917 in 25 different sectors related to these textbooks that reached the hands of students in 2025.

The biggest loophole: Substandard books and excessive tenders

According to the report, the main focus of corruption was the textbook printing, binding and supply sector. 1,785 crore 8 lakh 88,771 taka was deducted in the name of expenditure without ensuring the quality of the books.

In addition, the government lost 216 crore 49 lakh 29,754 taka due to the work being awarded at an excessive price without considering the estimated cost. Even though only one bidder participated, the government had to pay 61 crore 8 lakh 82,415 taka as compensation for not cancelling the tender as per the law and awarding the work to the lowest bidder. And the loss was 4 crore 49 lakh 43,343 taka due to the work being awarded to someone else at an excessive price without awarding the work to the lowest bidder.

Loophole by printing billions of books more than demand

A review of the purchase orders for 741 lots of different levels including secondary, vocational and braille for the 2025 academic year shows that the actual demand of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education and the Department of Social Services was 219.740,611 books. But the NCTB, ignoring the demand, ordered the printing of crores of additional books. As a result, the government suffered a specific financial loss of 516 crore 34 lakh 41,211 taka in the name of printing and supplying additional books.

Educationists and experts say that in a sensitive sector like textbooks, where the future of children is involved, corruption of this magnitude is tantamount to destroying the entire education sector. Conscious civil society has demanded an impartial investigation into the corruption of Tk 2,711 crore exposed in the audit report and prompt and severe punishment for those responsible.