The government on Monday announced a pilot programme to distribute free eco-friendly jute school bags, along with uniforms and shoes, to 350,000 primary school students nationwide in a bid to promote natural fibres and reduce dependence on plastic products.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj announced the initiative at the Secretariat, following a joint preparatory meeting between the ministries of primary and mass education, textiles and jute, and local government, rural development and cooperatives (LGRD).
Some 100,000 students across all upazilas will receive the free kits -- jute bags, school uniforms, shoes and socks -- during July and August, he said.
"More than 25,000 primary schools will be included in this initiative," Hajjaj said. "The government plans to complete the pilot phase by December and expand the distribution of these items to students in all primary schools from next year."
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to formally inaugurate the programme before the government completes its first 180 days in office, he added.
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam and State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam were present at the event.
Earlier, an inter-ministerial preparatory meeting titled "Pilot distribution of environment-friendly jute school bags among primary school students" was held.
"Prime Minister Tarique Rahman firmly believes that building education on a modern and solid foundation is essential for creating a Bangladesh of our dreams. Other ministries have now come forward to help realise this far-sighted vision," Hajjaj said.
The Ministry of Textiles and Jute is providing 500,000 specialised eco-friendly jute school bags free of cost for the pilot project while the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives will provide logistical and administrative support to ensure timely delivery of the materials to schools, including those in remote areas.
Hajjaj said the bags were being manufactured using special technology suited to Bangladesh's riverine landscape and heavy rainfall. According to assurances from the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, the bags will be fully waterproof, protecting students' books and notebooks even during heavy rain.
Any technical shortcomings identified during the pilot phase will be addressed before the full-scale rollout, he added.
Based on the pilot project's outcome, free distribution of school bags and related materials to all primary school students is expected to begin in January 2027.
The initiative will be implemented under the Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5), which Hajjaj described as the largest education programme in the country's history, being implemented under the direct leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
He said the programme was expected to bring about a fundamental transformation in Bangladesh's primary education system.
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