JS amends PPA to raise local procurement limit

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Parliament Monday passed the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2010 raising the domestic procurement cost limit to Tk 20 million from Tk 5.0 million under limited tender procedure, reports UNB.
According to the Bill, there will be no requirement of previous work experience to vie for such domestic procurement.
Fazlul Azim, an independent member, opposing the passage of the bill sought for its circulation to elicit public opinions.
He contended that the law was enacted with honest objective on suggestion from the World Bank and other donors. The amendment is intended to favour inexperienced suppliers to do business and gain experience in business profession.
Azim was a bit sarcastic. "Tom, Dick, Harry, Ram, Shyam, Jadu, Rahim, Karim have all entered into business these days. They are engaged in tender manipulations."
He said works are not being distributed properly. Not to speak of implementation of the works, many people are challenging in the court undue selection of bidders resulting in delay in distribution of work orders.
Citing newspaper reports and photographs, Azim said people armed with machetes and knifes are chasing experienced contractors. This must be stopped.
Azim also opposed the provision that there will not be any previous experience to submit tender to get the work order for procurement.
His motions for eliciting public opinions and amendments to the bill were rejected by voice vote.
Piloted by Planning Minister Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandaker, the bill was passed by voice votes in absence of the opposition BNP which is continuing their boycott of the House.