It has been over a month since the start of the academic year, yet many students across the country are still waiting for their full set of textbooks. According to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), as of February 19, approximately 70 million textbooks, mostly for secondary levels, remain to be printed. Although the education department had warned of delays due to curriculum changes and other issues, the delay has been longer than expected, raising concerns about whether all students will receive their textbooks in time. This prolonged delay may disrupt academic progress even further. Originally, the NCTB planned to print 401.5 million textbooks for 40 million students across primary and secondary levels. However, after reassessment, the required number was revised to 396 million, with 70 million still to be printed. At the secondary level, approximately 305 million textbooks are needed, but only 236.7 million have been printed so far. Of these, 187.46 million have been distributed, leaving 117.5 million still to be supplied. Additionally, textbooks go through quality checks before distribution, further delaying the process due to additional time needed for binding and assessments. For primary schools, over 91.9 million textbooks were required, and 89.644 million have been printed. Of these, 86.561 million have been approved for distribution, with about 5.4 million still pending. At the beginning of February, the NCTB chairman had hoped that all textbooks would be distributed by February 15, but the goal has been pushed to the end of the month. Books that require assessments are expected to be dispatched soon, while those without assessments are delayed due to higher demand. Visits to schools in Dhaka and rural areas revealed that while some schools have received textbooks for most subjects, shortages persist, especially for Class 9 students. For example, Adarsha Girls School in Netrokona reported missing textbooks for several subjects, including agricultural studies and advanced mathematics. In some rural schools, teachers have resorted to using PDF versions of textbooks for instruction, but access to these digital copies is limited, disrupting lessons in subjects without printed textbooks. An anonymous official from the NCTB stated that efforts have been focused on distributing textbooks for core subjects like Bangla, English, and mathematics, with Class 10 textbooks prioritized due to the upcoming SSC exams. The printing of primary textbooks is nearly finished, and the main focus now is on Class 9 and other secondary textbooks. Delays in tendering, approvals, and shortages of materials such as paper and art cards have contributed to the holdup. Due to these ongoing challenges, it may take until mid-March for all students to receive their textbooks.