DHAKA, Jan 1, 2024 (BSS) - State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain today said the new textbooks are the Prime Minister's New Year gift for kids.

"The new textbooks fascinate and amuse children, while the smell of the new books excites children. Pages of new books make them curious," he said while speaking at a function of 'Textbook Distribution Festival-2024' organised by the Directorate of Primary Education at National Government Primary School in Mirpur here.

Speaking as the chief guest, Zakir said under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, cent percent new textbooks have been distributing free of cost among primary level students since the academic year 2010, bearing the emotion of children.

Primary and Mass Education Secretary Farid Ahmed joined the 'book distribution ceremony' as the special guest with Director General of Directorate of Primary Education Shah Rezwan Hayat in the chair.

High official of the ministry and directorate and schoolteachers and students were present at the function.

In 2024, a total of 9, 38, 03,606 textbooks will be distributed among 2, 12, 52, 006 pre-primary and primary level students across the country, the state minister added.