Public Administration Ministry has cancelled the entire list of books, including the 29 books authored by additional secretary Md Nabirul Islam, recommended for purchase earlier.
Senior secretary of public administration ministry KM Ali Azam disclosed the matter on Monday.
KM Ali Azam said: "A committee will be formed through a meeting and until then, procurement of books will remain suspended."
Earlier, the list with a total of 1,477 books was prepared for the offices of divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, and upazila nirbahi officers. The list included 29 books, mostly poetry, written by additional secretary Md Nabirul Islam while 24 of these books were published by a single publisher.
The Tk 95.5 million book list faced a widespread criticism when on Sunday national daily Prothom Alo published a report titled “29 books authored by an additional secretary in list of books for purchase.”
The initiative of public administration ministry aimed at increasing “cultivation of knowledge and reading habits.”