United News of Bangladesh

The government currently has a stock of 20.72 lakh metric tonnes of food grains in the government godowns in the country, said State Minister for Food Abdul Bari in Parliament. “As of 21st  June, 2026, there is a stock of 20,72,754 metric tons of food grains (rice-wheat) in the country’s food godowns,” he said on Tuesday, while replying to a starred question from treasury bench member Lutfur Rahman (Cox’s Bazar-3) in the House. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad tabled the question-and-answer session in the outset of the day’s business started around 3pm. The state minister said the government has undertaken extensive procurement steps to further strengthen the country's food reserves. To increase food stocks, the government has launched an internal procurement drive during the 2026 Boro season, targeting the purchase of 5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, 12 lakh million metric tonnes of boiled rice, 1 lakh metric tonnes of Atap rice (non-boiled rice) and 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat. As of June 21 last, the government had procured 201,295 metric tonnes of paddy and 602,487 metric tonnes of boiled rice. Abdul Bari said 36,879 metric tonnes of Atap rice have been collected, while 500 metric tonnes of wheat  have been procured. The state minister expressed optimism that the procurement targets for paddy and rice would be achieved within the stipulated procurement period ending on August 31, 2026.  

There are 37,926 vacant posts of headmaster and assistant teachers in 66,566 primary schools in the country at present. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Ministry Md. Zakir Hossen informed this at parliament on Tuesday. In response to a question of Awami League MP, Abul Kalam Azad, Zakir Hossen said that the government has a plan to fill the vacant posts of headmaster and assistant teachers. Also Read: Assimilated govt. college teachers demand job security In reply to the lawmakers’ tabled question, the state minister said, 29,858 posts of headmaster and 8,068 posts of assistant teacher are vacant now. He said that a requisition was sent to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission on January 4 from the Ministry of Public Administration for the filling 1,955 vacancies of headmasters.  In reply to another query from Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman, the State Minister for Primary and Mass Education said that the total number of primary school teachers in the country is 4.27 lakh. Among them, 3.90 lakh are in service. Meanwhile, Education Minister Dipu Moni in reply to a query from reserved seat MP Khaleda Khanam, told parliament that there is a plan to establish a university in each district and a medical university in each division.  She informed the House that at present there are two women's universities in the country—one is a private university and the other is an international women's university. Also Read: 366 govt primary schools in Kurigram run without head teacher In response to a query from AL MP Nasimul Alam Chowdhury, the education minister said that work in going on to introduce automation software to stop the fraud of educational certificates at the higher education level.  “Once the software is launched, it will be possible to save all the information of university level students and the certificate can be verified online from anywhere in the world. It will be possible to stop certificate fraud,” she also said. ALso Read: HC questions legality of primary school teacher recruitment on quota basis She said that action has already been taken against 678 teachers/employees having fake certificates.    

Up to 342 government primary school buildings in Dhaka city will be get an architectural overhaul to make them more enjoyable for the children, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Wednesday. This will be done under the ‘Drishtinandan Project’ worth Tk 1,159.21 crore that has recently been approved, said the state minister at a programme at Mohammadpur Government Primary School in the capital. Under this project, a six-storey building with aesthetic architecture will be constructed in every school, which will have modern classrooms, a play zone for children's sports and entertainment and educational facilities including parents' waiting room, he added. He also said playgrounds will be developed in all the schools. The government has taken initiative to transform every school into a full-fledged educational institution. An environment conducive to child-friendly education of about two lakh students will be ensured through this project, said the state minister. READ: Question paper leak in primary school teachers exam is rumour: State Minister Besides, three government primary schools will be set up in Uttara and 11 in Purbachal. He hoped that the implementation of this project will reduce social inequality by ensuring 100 per cent enrolment of students in the capital, mental development of the children, access to education, higher education and continuous improvement.