"I haven't received my books yet, even though classes are ongoing. Without it, I am falling behind in my studies," said Mizanur Rahman Jisan, a student at Pashchim Kadhurkhil High School in the Boalkhali upazila, echoing the sentiment of thousands of secondary students across Chattogram.

While one and half months have passed, around 60 percent of secondary and Dakhil students across Chattogram are yet to receive their new books.

Most are from rural areas, according to data from Chattogram District Secondary Education Office.

The data states that only 6.94 million (around 40 percent) books have so far reached the district education office, against a demand of over 17.3 million textbooks, across 15 upazilas and six metropolitan zones.

6.94 million (around 40 percent) books have so far reached the district education office, against a demand of over 17.3 million textbooks, across 15 upazilas and six metropolitan zones.

As of February, a total of 12,69,37,616 books have been distributed across the district -- including 53,33,566 in secondary schools, 9,49,326 in Dakhil madrasas, 3,86,894 in Ibtedayee madrasas, 93,500 in vocational institutions, and 1,74,330 in English version schools. However, there is still a shortage of 1.04 crore books.

Data revealed that no books have been supplied for several grades in secondary schools and Dakhil madrasas in Fatikchhari, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Patiya, Satkania, Lohagara, Boalkhali, Rangunia and Mirsarai upazilas.

Boalkhali has received the lowest number of books, only 18,000 against a demand of 4.8 lakh. In this upazila, no books have been distributed in Ibtedayee madrasas either.

In Anwara upazila, all secondary schools have received textbooks, but Dakhil students have not received any. In Hathazari upazila, 6th-graders have not received their books yet.

In the six educational zones within Chattogram city, only 9,000 books have been distributed for 8th-grade Dakhil students, while books for four other classes have not been given. In different city areas -- including Panchlaish, Pahartali, and Bayezid -- textbooks have not arrived for several secondary level classes, while no Dakhil madras received books in Karnaphuli.

For English version schools, printing of 6th-grade textbooks has not even started, while only 19,000 books were distributed for 8th-graders, said education officials.

In schools where books for all classes were sent, students received no more than 3-4 books per class.

Furthermore, there is a significant shortage of books for 6th and 8th grades in both secondary schools and Dakhil madrasas.

Biswajit Barua, headteacher of Kadhurkhil Government High School in Boalkhali, said no books for 8th-grade arrived yet.

So, teachers have to download the books on mobile devices, while students are falling behind in the curriculum.

Education officials estimated it may take until March to distribute all textbooks required.

"So far, we have received only 40 percent of the required books. Based on the demand from each sub-district, it may take more than a month to receive all the books," said Uttam Khisa, secondary education officer in Chattogram district.