A group of textbook printing contractors and press owners has staged multiple lobbying demonstrations at the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) over the past week, according to an investigation by the education newspaper Dainik Amader Barta. The stated goal is to use manufactured paper shortages, controlled PDI reports, and bank loan excuses to secure the next academic year’s textbook printing contracts on the same terms as before — with inflated profits and accounting irregularities — and ensure their invoices are paid. The lobbying was timed around July 2, the date set for the tender opening.
According to the investigation, this group has been printing textbooks and submitting inflated invoices for the past 17 years. They were supported by former Education Ministers Dipu Moni and Nurul Islam Nahid and their relatives, certain ministry bureaucrats, and corrupt NCTB officials. Most recently, they arranged the appointment of their preferred candidates to NCTB member positions, with the active assistance of several note-and-guide-book companies.
The investigation identified the owners of Panjeri Publication and Baratupa Press as being behind the recent lobbying. It is alleged that fugitive former Dhaka Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former IGP Benazir (detained in Dubai), and others have proxy investments in Panjeri Publication. Over the past 16 years, Panjeri has given “author” credit to nearly every corrupt bureaucrat involved, the report said. One of Panjeri’s owners is a fugitive abroad.
Others identified behind the lobbying include a former additional secretary who served as acting NCTB chairman for several months, former production and distribution officials, and press owners including Dulal Sarkar, Helali, Rabbani Jabbar, Osman Gani, and Md. Nazrul Islam Kajal. The owners of Karnaphuli, Agrani, and Kachua presses are alleged to have directed operations from a distance. Baratupa, Tangail Press, Farazi Press and Publicsense, Muttahida Printers, Subarna Printers, Auto Printers, New Sujon Art Press, Diganta Offset Press, Bornoshobha Printers, Rabbil Printing Press, Reza Printers, Sarkar Press and Publications, and other firms were also involved, the report said.
The investigation found that the former additional secretary serving as acting NCTB chairman had blocked approximately 8.5 billion taka in invoices from 73 press owners by claiming additional forms for this year’s primary textbooks had not been approved. It is alleged that Panjeri Publication used multiple influential figures in this process.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report