Due to weaknesses in public investment management, Bangladesh's GDP is negatively affected. To become an upper-middle-income country by 2031 and a high-income country by 2041, Bangladesh must prevent waste in public investments, save money and time through digital management of public procurement, reduce environmental pollution, and achieve value for money.

On July 18, 2024, Mr. Abul Kashem Md. Mohiuddin, Secretary, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) under the Ministry of Planning, said this as the chief guest at a workshop held at the conference room of Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi.

Emphasizing the importance of sustainable development in the ongoing 8th Five-Year Plan and the Perspective Plan, he mentioned that the Bangladesh government is progressing towards initiating Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under this initiative, policies have been adopted to encourage environment-friendly public procurement, which BPPA will now implement.

The workshop, organized by the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) to raise awareness about BPPA's functions and the progress of e-GP, was presided over by BPPA Director (Joint Secretary) Mr. Md. Aknur Rahman PhD.

Special guests included Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner (Additional Secretary) Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Shameem Ahmed. Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) Mr. Abu Saleh Md. Ashraful Alam, Executive Engineer of Rajshahi Public Works Zone Mr. Ferdous Shahnewaz Kanta, Sub-divisional Engineer of Public Works Department-2 Rajshahi Mr. Md. Kawsar Sarkar, Assistant Director of LGED Rajshahi Ms. Umme Afia Mausumi, President of Rajshahi Press Club Mr. Saidur Rahman, and PWD contractor Mr. Khaza Tarek raised questions about public procurement and the e-GP system. BPPA Director Mr. Md. Aknur Rahman PhD, gave explanations according to the Public Procurement Act 2006 and the Public Procurement Rules 2008.

BPPA (formerly CPTU) launched e-GP for the digitization of public procurement. The Honorable Prime Minister inaugurated the e-GP portal on June 2, 2011. The e-GP has brought significant benefits in public procurement.

Participants included Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mr. Kalyan Chowdhury, Editor of Sonali Sangbad Mr. Md. Liaquat Ali, Editor of Sonar Desh Mr. Akbarul Hasan Millat, and Reporter of Ajker Patrika Mr. Rimon Rahman. Around 75 representatives from local procuring entities, tenderers, banks, and media participated in the workshop.

BPPA organized this workshop under the Digitizing Implementation Monitoring and Public Procurement Project (DIMAPPP). Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) managed the workshop as a consultant appointed by BPPA. BCCP Director and CEO Mohammad Shahjahan, Program Director and Deputy CEO Dr. Zeenat Sultana were present.

Abul Kashem Md. Mohiuddin said that since the Honorable Prime Minister inaugurated the e-GP portal on June 2, 2011, its use has been rapidly increasing. As part of the current government's Vision 2041 to build a Smart Bangladesh, BPPA is implementing e-GP with everyone's cooperation.

Since 2022, several important modules have been added to e-GP. It is now a fully online system. Currently, about 70 per cent of all public procurement in the country is conducted through e-GP.

Mentioning some positive changes brought by the implementation of e-GP in public procurement, he said that the average processing time for public procurement has reduced from 100 days to 57 days. Notices of contract awards are issued within the primary validity period of tenders in 96% of cases, and 100% of tender notices and contract awards are published in the e-GP system. The use of the e-GP system saves $600 million annually, reduces the travel distance for bidders by 49.7 million kilometers, saves 1.053 billion pages of paper, and reduces carbon emissions by 153,559 tons.

As the lead consultant appointed by BPPA, Dohatec New Media operates and maintains the e-GP system in collaboration with Beximco IT and GSS Infotech.