For many decades, Bangladesh’s public procurement system has faced significant obstacles, which have had a detrimental impact on delivering quality public services and eroded public trust. Among the issues that have plagued the system are inefficiency, lack of transparency, and limited competition, which have led to mismanagement, corruption, and waste of public resources. To address these concerns and promote a more efficient, transparent, and competitive procurement process, the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) was established in 2002. CPTU is responsible for developing and implementing policies, regulations, and guidelines for public procurement, as well as for building capacity and providing support to procurement entities at all levels of government.
Bolstering Bangladesh’s Procurement: Battling CPTU’s Barriers
Despite commendable efforts towards procurement reform, the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) has faced several challenges that have limited its effectiveness. One of the main obstacles is the insufficient resources allocated to CPTU, which has hindered its capacity to carry out its mandate effectively. This includes inadequate funding, staffing, infrastructure, and limited access to information and technology. As a result, CPTU has struggled to provide timely and quality services to its stakeholders, including procurement entities, suppliers, and the public.
To overcome these challenges and enhance the effectiveness of public procurement in Bangladesh, it became essential to strengthen the legal framework, increase the resources and capacity of the CPTU, and foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and integrity in public procurement. Achieving these goals requires a collective and sustained effort from all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners.
Bangladesh’s BPPA: Pioneering Progress in Public Procurement
On September 18th, 2023, Bangladesh made significant progress in enhancing its procurement system with the approval and implementation of the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) Act, which established BPPA as an independent authority responsible for public procurement. This was a significant departure from the previous procurement system overseen by CPTU. BPPA was established with greater autonomy and a robust legal framework, ensuring the transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of its operations. The authorities’ efforts have led to a more efficient and effective procurement system that has benefited both the government and private sector. Additionally, BPPA has promoted a culture of compliance and accountability in the procurement process, ensuring that all purchases adhere to the law and regulations.
One of the most significant changes brought about by BPPA is the ushering in of an era of transparency and efficiency through its strategic use of the latest technology. The e-GP system is a cornerstone of this transformation, streamlining administrative processes, minimizing human intervention, and enhancing data accessibility. This digital revolution empowers citizens with readily available information on all public procurement activities, allowing them to track project progress and hold authorities accountable for effectively utilizing public resources.
BPPA actively engages citizens through its Citizen’s Charter for Public Engagement. This initiative aims to foster accountability and ethical conduct by empowering trained citizen groups in 48 upazilas to monitor public contract implementation actively. The Citizen’s Charter for Public Engagement ensures that all public contracts are carried out with the highest quality standards and that the projects adhere to established norms and guidelines. Active citizen engagement is crucial in fostering trust in the government, promoting responsible resource management, and empowering communities to participate meaningfully in shaping their development. This initiative has been instrumental in promoting transparency and accountability in government projects and has helped to build a culture of responsibility and civic engagement among citizens. By empowering citizens to take an active role in monitoring public projects, the government can ensure that all resources are utilized effectively and efficiently and that the needs of communities are met promptly and responsibly.
BPPA recognizes the significance of prompt and efficient grievance redressal in maintaining public trust. For this reason, it has established dedicated mechanisms to address citizen concerns and complaints swiftly and effectively, demonstrating BPPA’s commitment to accountability and ensuring citizens’ voices are heard and acted upon.
Furthermore, BPPA promotes collaborative decision-making through the Public Procurement Steering Committee (PPSC). This platform brings together key stakeholders from various government agencies and civil society organizations, facilitating open discussion, exchange of diverse perspectives, and collaborative decision-making. By incorporating diverse viewpoints, BPPA ensures that policies are developed with the needs of all stakeholders in mind.
BPPA’s Debut Council Meeting: Pioneering Policies for Procurement
The first meeting of the governing council of BPPA was held on 7 December 2023 at the CPTU building located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the capital city. The President of the Board of Directors and Planning Minister, MA Mannan, was the Chief Guest at the event. During the first Board of Directors meeting, the structure and workforce recruitment were discussed for BPPA. Additionally, financial management for the management of BPPA was also discussed. The representatives of the management council presented their views on these issues during the meeting. BPPA is chaired by the Minister of Planning, with the Senior Vice-Chairperson being the State Minister for Planning and the Vice-Chairperson being the IMED Secretary. Furthermore, the member secretary will be the chief executive of BPPA.
Innovative Influence: Dohatec’s Role in Reshaping Procurement
Dohatec New Media has played a significant role in transforming the public procurement scenario in our country, mainly through their collaboration with CPTU. The company is currently working closely with BPPA. Their unwavering dedication to providing exceptional training and technical support has made e-GP more accessible and user-friendly for government officials and private sector stakeholders. Thanks to Dohatec’s expertise, e-GP adoption in Bangladesh has significantly increased, resulting in a more transparent, efficient, and fair procurement process. In addition to their remarkable contributions, Dohatec is credited with establishing the e-GP helpdesk within the CPTU, which operates 24/7 under the Ministry of Planning and handles approximately 17,000 queries every month. Dohatec’s commitment to excellence is truly admirable.
Final Words
BPPA’s dedication to good governance and ethical conduct has demonstrated how transparency and accountability can improve public services and promote sustainable development. As BPPA continues to innovate, it is paving the way for a future where public procurement empowers communities and leads to a more equitable and prosperous Bangladesh.