Date: 22 December 2024

Venue: ICAB Conference Room

Time: 6:00PM

• Respected Chair of the programme;
• Respected Chief Gust, Secretary, ICT Division, Mr Shish Haider Chowdhury, ndc, MCIPS;
• Director General of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC)
• Former CEO of BPPA, Mr Mohammed Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury;
• Former executives of ICAB;
• Distinguished Guests;
• My colleagues from BPPA;

Assalamu Alaikum and a wintry good evening.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Warm greetings to you all. It is indeed an honour and a privilege to stand before you on this momentous occasion—the official launch of the Document Verification System (DVS) by the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA). This day marks not just the culmination of a visionary collaboration between BPPA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), but the dawn of a new era in public procurement, one defined by transparency, accountability, and financial discipline.

First and foremost, I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to ICAB for their unwavering commitment to fostering integrity in our national procurement system. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on 16 May 2024 laid the foundation for this historic partnership, and today we proudly witness the fruits of our shared efforts.

I am grateful to respected Secretary present here today as the Chief Guest for giving us his valuable time. Actually, he is a national procurement trainer and has long been associated with BPPA. We are very proud of his guidance and cooperation always. Today, we are lucky that sir is with us here. We feel he is always with us.

The integration of the DVS into the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System is a game-changer. For years, public procurement processes across the globe have grappled with the challenges of verifying the authenticity of financial statements. The introduction of the DVS by ICAB represents a sophisticated solution to this critical issue. By leveraging this system, BPPA will now ensure that audited financial statements submitted by tenderers are verified, compliant, and certified by ICAB's CoP holder Chartered Accountants.

This milestone is more than just a technological advancement; it is a testament to our collective resolve to uphold the principles of good governance. A transparent procurement system is the bedrock of a thriving economy, and with this innovation, BPPA is poised to set a benchmark not just for Bangladesh, but for the entire region.

Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedicated efforts of my predecessor, Mr. Mohammed Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury, who played a pivotal role in initiating this collaboration. Sir, your vision and leadership have been instrumental in driving this initiative forward.

I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to the ICAB President, Mr. Mohammed Forkan Uddin FCA, and all the distinguished officials of ICAB present here today. Your guidance and expertise have been invaluable in ensuring the successful integration of the DVS into our procurement processes.

Today’s launch is a significant step forward, but it is also a call to action for all of us. Implementing this system effectively requires continuous collaboration, rigorous oversight, and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. Together, we must ensure that this tool is not just a technical solution, but a cornerstone of a procurement culture that prioritizes integrity and excellence.

Ladies and gentlemen;

You may know, on the procurement front, BPPA has implemented a series of reforms over the years. The digitization of our procurement system has drawn appreciation at home and abroad. Our e-GP system is now a complete online system with both procurement processing and contract management. You will be happy to know that so far, 11 countries and 5 international organizations have observed Bangladesh's e-GP system and its implementation.

Our e-GP system has already been integrated with NID, iBASS++ and e-PMIS. And now with integration with DVS, now we are a step forward in making the tendering process more authentic and trustworthy. We have added e-Audit, International Competitive Tendering, Tenderers’ Database, Direct Procurement Method, A-Challan to the e-GP system. You will be happy to know that bills are now paid online to tenderers through e-GP using the automated e-CMS.

We have also added framework agreement to e-GP system and now we are going to have the Red Flagging in the e-GP. As part of simplification and modernization of e-GP technology we are now shifting to micro services from the monolithic mode in e-GP.Let me share with you some positive outcome of digitization in public procurement.

Transparency: In 2007, only 70% of tender notices used to be published in the media. By 2024, this has increased to 100%.

Efficiency: In 2007, only 10% of work orders were issued within the initial validity period of tenders. By 2024, this figure has risen to 96.63%.

Competitiveness: In 2007, the average number of responsive tenderers per tender was only 3. By 2024, this number has increased to 10.68.

As a mark of achieving international standards in Information Management Systems, Environmental Management Systems, Quality Management Systems, and Business Continuity Management Systems, the e-GP system has been awarded four separate ISO certifications. If I mention some impact of reforms:

• Percentage share of awarded bids within original bid validity period increased from 10% (FY07) to 99% (FY24)
• Estimated around US$ 600 million annual savings
• 1,053 million pages of papers savings
• Average procurement lead time (invitation to contract signing) decreased from 86.7 days (FY12) to 53 days (FY24)
• Percentage share of rejected bids decreased from 8% (FY12) to 3% (FY19)
• Estimated 497 million km. of travel distance reduction
• Decrease 153,559 tons of CO2 emission
• Improved market access and bidding environment compared to manual bidding

As we move forward, let us remember that the true measure of success lies not in the systems we implement, but in the trust and confidence they inspire among citizens, businesses, and stakeholders. By embracing innovation and adhering to the principles of transparency, we can build a public procurement system that serves as a model of efficiency and fairness.

In closing, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to making this initiative a reality. Let this launch be a beacon of our shared dedication to the betterment of our nation. Together, let us ensure that the DVS not only enhances the credibility of our procurement system but also strengthens the foundation of trust upon which our country’s progress is built.

Thank you. May this day mark the beginning of an extraordinary chapter in our journey towards a more accountable and prosperous Bangladesh.

THANK YOU ALL