DHAKA:  The textbook distribution festival began at all the primary, secondary-levels and equivalent educational institutions on Thursday morning simultaneously, ignoring the nationwide hartal, enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid inaugurated the book distribution of more than 32-crore textbooks among around 4.44 crore students, by handing over new books to students of Motijheel Government Boys School around 10:15am.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman, secretaries of the Education and the Primary and Mass Education ministries were also present at the function.

Addressing the function, Nahid said all students (in secondary level) had bought textbooks till 2009; but students of class I to class IX have been getting free textbooks since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took power in 2010.

Now, none will tell that they don’t get textbooks, the minister added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the “Textbook Festival" on December 30, 2014. Ministry of Mass Education has arranged the festival centrally.

BDST: 1105 HRS, JAN 01, 2015/ updated 1316hrs