The government has given priority to modernize the electronic Government Procurement or e-GP system. It is also going to bring necessary reforms in the public procurement law soon.

Mr. Mirza Ashfaqur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA), under the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Ministry of Planning, said this at a workshop on "Sharing of experience about BPPA functions and e-GP" as the chief guest.

BPPA organized the workshop at the DC office conference room in Moulvibazar district on 8 April 2025. Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Moulvibazar Mr. Md Israil Hossain chaired the workshop. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Bulbul Ahmed was also present.

The Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP) managed the workshop. Deputy CEO and Program Director of BCCP Dr. Zeenat Sultana was present in the workshop. A total of 70 participants including representatives of procuring entities, tenderers, journalists, bankers and civil society members were present.

Mentioning the objective of BPPA, Mr. Mirza Ashfaqur Rahman said the BPPA is working in line with the guidance of the present government to make the country’s public procurement more user-friendly by incorporating recommendations and feedback from the concerned stakeholders at the grassroots through holding such workshops.

He, however, urged stakeholders to make more recommendations on bringing reforms in the system to make e-GP fully workable.

“We want to develop public procurement system that will be more user-friendly and so our priority is to bring positive changes now because this is the right time,” said the BPPA chief, referring to the present favorable environment as the government is very sincere and prompt to bring reforms in the system.

Presently, there is budget allocation for only implementing a project, but no fund is allocated for its maintenance after completion, he mentioned, suggesting the concerned, especially the procuring entities, for seeking funds for maintenance of any works as that is very much essential for longevity.

Responding to queries of the participants at the workshop, he said, BPPA would consider if the performance guarantee could be increased to ensure quality of work, but that might put a burden on tenderers as this fund is held for quite a long time.

Referring to the upcoming amendment to the public procurement law, he said there will be no scope for selling out the work by any awardee and the provision for 10 percent cap is being omitted from the law and rules. He requested people to notify any loopholes in contract implementation and publish those, saying “Time has changed now and so there is no reason for getting afraid or feeling weak.”

Mentioning that the national budget of Bangladesh for the present fiscal year of 2024-25 is Tk7,99,000 crore of which 40 per cent is allocated for public procurement, he said 65 per cent of the procurement volume is done through e-GP at present. Considering that such a huge budget is spent through e-GP, he said, training on e-GP is a must for educating all concerned for smooth implementation of contracts.

On 9 April 2025, BPPA conducted an orientation programme on (e-GP) for tenderers at the upazila level. BPPA arranged such first-ever orientation programme at Sreemangal Upazilla in Moulvibazar district that created much enthusiasm among the local tenderers.

A total of 35 tenderers attended the orientation programme, what they termed, very educative and useful for them.

The orientation programme managed by the Bangladesh Center for Communication Program (BCCP) started in the morning with the introductory remarks on e-GP by BPPA’s Chief Executive Office Mr. Mirza Ashfaqur Rahman, who graced the programme as the chief guest. Sreemangal Upazilla Nirbahi Officer Md. Islam Uddin was present at the programme.

Representatives of various procuring entities in the upazilla were also present at the orientation programme. The next orientation programme for the upazilla level tenderers will be held on 15 April 2025 at Charfesson Upazilla. A.S.M. Shariful Haque, Senior Software Engineer, Dohatec, conducted the orientation programme on behalf of BPPA at Sreemangal.

Expressing satisfaction over the hands-on training on the e-GP system, Helena Chowdhury, a female tenderer said that she benefitted immensely by participating in this orientation programme. “Previously, I was fully dependent on others and used to take help from them to submit tenders which was often inconvenient for me. But now I would be able io perform the task on my own,” she observed.

Since everything now needs to be done online, getting trained on e-GP use is a great achievement for me, she mentioned adding, as a female tenderer, participating in tendering business has become much easier through e-GP as entire things can now be done from home.

Previously, it was a matter of fear to operate in e-GP but following today’s orientation I have gained confidence and so I would be able to work more smoothly. In case of any difficulties, I can take help from the e-GP Help Desk as taught at today’s orientation programme, she mentioned.

She, however, appealed to the BPPA for its intervention in getting support from banks and financial institutions so that they facilitate female tenderers in availing of the opportunities provided to them.

Another tenderer, Delwar Hossain, said that he used to go to computer shops to complete tender submission where he had to share password as he was not able to do it by himself. He now feels he can do it by himself following this orientation.