Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has directed the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) to take further measures to reduce the time required for public procurement, which has already been brought down to 54 days.
He issued the directive while chairing the fourth meeting of the 10-member Governing Board of the BPPA at the authority’s conference room on the Bangladesh Planning Commission campus on Thursday.
State Minister for Planning and Senior Vice-Chair of the Governing Board Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, Vice-Chair and Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) Secretary Shirajun Noor Chowdhury, and other board members attended the meeting, according to a press release.
Procurement lead time refers to the period between the invitation of tenders and the signing of contracts.
Appreciating the BPPA’s institutional development and procurement reforms, the finance and planning minister said the introduction of the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system and other reforms had significantly improved the process.
“It is encouraging that the procurement lead time has been reduced from around 100 days to 54 days through the introduction of the e-GP system and other reforms undertaken by the BPPA. However, it should be reduced further to expedite project implementation,” he said.
Expressing concern over delays in project execution, Amir Khosru said lengthy implementation periods were affecting the government’s development agenda.
“Delays in project implementation impede the government’s development agenda. A faster procurement process, supported by greater efficiency, competition and transparency, will significantly accelerate project implementation and improve development outcomes,” he said.
As chairman of the BPPA Governing Board, the minister also stressed the need to increase competition and improve the quality of public procurement, saying stronger procurement performance would contribute to timely and effective completion of development projects.
He also said the activities of the Ministry of Planning needed to be revitalised and announced that he would work from his Planning Ministry office at least one day a week to ensure closer monitoring and supervision.
Earlier in the meeting, BPPA Chief Executive Officer and Governing Board Member-Secretary S M Moin Uddin Ahmed made a detailed presentation on the establishment of the authority, its organisational structure, statutory responsibilities, progress of the e-GP system, ongoing projects, key challenges and future strategic priorities.
The minister instructed the BPPA to speed up implementation of its ongoing modernisation project, ensure mandatory use of the e-GP system and digital signatures, and strengthen due diligence of firms and companies participating in public procurement.
He also highlighted the importance of appointing competent project directors and improving their professional skills to ensure better project implementation.
In addition, Amir Khosru stressed the need for holding regular meetings of the BPPA Governing Board to strengthen oversight and ensure timely decision-making.
