As part of its ongoing efforts to consult stakeholders on the proposed revisions to the Public Procurement Rules (PPR), 2008, the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) held a workshop with tenderers and members of the business community on 11 August 2025 at its conference room at BPPA Bhaban on the campus of Bangladesh Planning Commission.

The workshop, titled “Public Procurement Reforms with Tenderers and Business Community,” was graced by Mr. Md. Kamal Uddin, Secretary, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Ministry of Planning. The event was chaired by Mr. S.M. Moin Uddin Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of BPPA and Additional Secretary.

Around 40 participants attended the workshop, including representatives from prominent business associations such as the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), and the Bangladesh Association of Construction Industry (BACI).

During the session, Mr. Shah Eyamin-Ul Islam, Director (Deputy Secretary) of BPPA, delivered a presentation on the proposed amendments to the PPR, 2008. The draft has already been uploaded to the BPPA website, and stakeholders have been invited to submit their comments by 18 August 2025.

The revisions follow the publication of the Public Procurement (Amendment) Ordinance in the official gazette on 4 May 2025. In alignment with this ordinance, corresponding amendments to the PPR, 2008 are now underway. BPPA has already conducted multiple consultations with various stakeholders as part of this process.

Participants raised several concerns regarding current procurement practices and specific aspects of the proposed revisions. Many highlighted the existence of discretionary powers granted to procuring entities, which they believe compromise fairness and transparency in public procurement.

In response, IMED Secretary emphasized the need to limit such discretionary provisions, noting that they could open the door to potential misuse.

The BPPA CEO reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to finalizing the revision process within a revised two-month timeline—significantly shortened from the original ten-month plan—in the broader interest of all stakeholders.