Various information on public procurement have been made available for citizens through the Citizen Portal. Citizens can know different aspects relating to procurement from this portal. Citizens, policymakers, procuring entities, tenderers and experts can play a role in public procurement monitoring with this information. Through this, it is possible to increase transparency and accountability in public procurement.

Speakers made these observations at a seminar organized by the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Ministry of Planning, in the capital on 28 November 2023.

The seminar titled ‘Citizen Portal to Engage Citizens in Public Procurement' was held at InterContinental Dhaka with facilitation of Dnet, a consulting firm engaged by CPTU. The event was organized under the Digitizing Implementation Monitoring and Public Procurement Project (DIMAPPP) of CPTU supported by the World Bank.

The seminar was chaired by Director General of CPTU Mr. Mohammed Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury. Secretary, IMED Mr. Abul Kashem Md. Mohiuddin was the chief guest. The Lead Procurement Specialist of the World Bank, Mr. Nagaraju Duthaluri, was present as a special guest.  Mr. Mirza Ashfaqur Rahman, Director (Additional Secretary) of CPTU delivered the welcome speech.

Mr. Andalib Bin Haque, Data Analytics Expert of Dnet, gave a presentation on citizen engagement in public procurement and Citizen Portal at the seminar. Mr. Mohammad Atiqur Rahman, Managing Director (Joint Secretary) of Bangladesh Services Limited gave a presentation on the application of Sustainable Public Procurement Policy (SPP). Representatives of various ministries and divisions, procuring agencies, development partners, business chambers, media and civil society participated in the open discussion.

Speakers in the seminar observed that the allocation for development budget is increasing every year to achieve the development goals and targets of the government. Along with that, the amount of expenditure on public procurement is increasing. Currently, about one-third of the national budget and 80 percent of the Annual Development Program (ADP) is spent on public procurement. It is important to ensure transparency and accountability in such a huge expenditure. Citizen engagement can play an important role in this area. Because, public procurement is being done with the money of the citizens and for them as well.

In the seminar, it was informed that CPTU has taken up various steps to ensure transparency, accountability, efficiency and competition to achieve value for money in public procurement. Citizen engagement is also a part of these steps.

The CPTU has launched Citizen Portal called Sarkari Kroi Batayan (www. citizen.cptu.gov.bd)' to inform citizens about public procurement. Through this, access to information related to public procurement has opened for all. This has created an opportunity to increase citizen monitoring of public procurement.

Citizens can easily get various information related to the procurement of goods, works and services across the country from the portal. There is also recent status of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of public procurement. The information on the portal is directly coming from the live data of the national electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system.

Mr. Abul Kashem Md. Mohiuddin, Secretary of IMED, said that currently there are about 1400 projects under the ADP across the country. About 80 to 85 percent of these project allocations are spent on procurement. If transparency and accountability can be increased in public procurement, there will be no more corruption and irregularities in public spending. This is why, the role of citizens is important.

The Citizen Portal on public procurement has been launched to provide information to the citizens. Initiatives will be taken to inform people about this portal at the District-Upazila level soon, he mentioned.

The Lead Procurement Specialist of the World Bank Mr. Nagaraju Duthaluri said there are risks of corruption and irregularities in procurement. Hence, Citizen Portal of CPTU will help ensure transparency and accountability as citizens can get information about public procurement from the portal. In future, if detailed information about contract management is available in this portal, people will be more interested in it. This is a very bold initiative, he observed.

CPTU Director General Mr. Md. Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury said that every citizen has the right to know what is being purchased with their tax-money. As part of establishing this right, CPTU has launched the Citizen Portal on public procurement. Gradually, all public procurement information will be made available in this portal, except some confidential and sensitive information.

There is also an initiative to take citizens' feedback and opinions on public procurement through the portal. As a result, the public procurement system of the country will be more transparent and accountable in near future, the DG noted.

CPTU Director (Additional Secretary) Mr. Mirza Ashfaqur Rahman in his welcome speech said, ‘Sorakari Kroi Batayan’ is now a major source of public procurement information. Citizens, policymakers, officials of procuring agencies, development partners, researchers, media, students and others will find this portal useful, he added.