A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Tuesday, seeking the court to direct the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate corruption allegations against the National Curriculum and Textbook Board chairman.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Kamal Hossain filed the petition, accusing the NCTB chairman of awarding contracts for printing textbooks of Classes I–X for 2024–25 without issuing fresh tenders.

Kamal alleged that the contracts were awarded to specific private printing press companies although they bid approximately 21 per cent higher than the estimated costs.

‘The NCTB’s actions wasted public funds as it awarded contracts under these inflated terms,’ Kamal told New Age.

He added that the board’s procurement violated the Public Procurement Rules, which required a re-tender if biddings exceeded the estimated value by more than 10 per cent.

The writ petition named the education ministry secretary and the Anti-Corruption Commission chairman, among others, as respondents.

Kamal said that he had earlier submitted a complaint to the commission, but no action was taken, prompting him to move the High Court.

The petition also alleged that a syndicate of printing press owners manipulated the bidding process to secure contracts, further undermining transparency and accountability in the publication of NCTB books.