DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate a two-day book festival at Ganabhaban in city on December 31 (Thursday).

Education ministry deputy secretary Subodh Chandra Dhali confirmed the matter to the media on Thursday.

He said the government will distribute more than 34-crore books at free of cost among the students from class I to IX. Last year, the number of books was 33-crore.

At least 333,961,124-crore books have been printing for around 44,416,728-crore students.

On January 1, mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman will start the distribution program from Mirpur National Bangla Government Primary School.

Besides, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid will distribute books among students from class VI to X at Government Laboratory School on January 2.

BDST: 1735 HRS, DEC 17, 2015
BD/RS/RR

** Book festival on Jan 2