100,000 primary students to receive free shoes in first phase

The government is set to launch a large-scale welfare initiative to distribute free, high-quality shoes to students of government primary schools across the country.

As part of a pilot project, around 100,000 students will receive shoes in the first phase, officials said.

Under the plan, all first-grade students in two government primary schools from each upazila will be included in the programme.

The announcement was made at a meeting in the Secretariat with representatives of leading footwear manufacturers and corporate organisations on Thursday (7 May).

According to Primary and Mass Education State Minister Bobby Hajjaj, the initiative will be implemented with support from corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from major companies.

He said the government aims to ensure that the programme goes beyond simple distribution and becomes a dignified and structured support system for children.

The minister stressed the importance of maintaining consistent quality, design, and production standards for the shoes, noting that disparities in product quality could create unequal experiences among students.

He also said a technical committee will be formed to set standards for quality control and design. The committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, technical experts, specialists from leather institutes and engineering universities, as well as representatives from participating companies.

The minister further emphasized that design, quality checking, and certification must follow international standards with proper involvement of technical experts.