Plan to activate public-private committee on procurement soon

FE Team | Published: November 04, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
A public-private committee formed to oversee all aspects of public procurement of both goods and services will be operational soon, sources said.
The committee comprising both public and private stakeholders was formed to oversee the full spectrum of public spending, detect irregularities and recommend changes, if necessary, in the public procurement regulations.
'"Now, the activities of the committee will begin officially to ensure transparency in the mechanism and method of public procurement,'' a top Planning
Ministry official told the FE.
The move, the ruling circle expects, would pacify the donors concerned, particularly the World Bank, which has recently expressed its dissatisfaction over the proposed amendment to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) to introduce lottery system in awarding contracts and accommodate inexperienced bidders, he added.
The committee will evaluate the broad impact of the PPA and rules concerned on country's procurement practices, hold meetings with various types of stakeholders and civil society members to obtain feedback on government procurement, according to an official notification of the MoP.
Besides, the committee will develop and recommend the possible mechanism for involvement of private or external stakeholders in monitoring and tracking of procurement process and outcomes, added the notification.
The committee will disseminate the findings and suggestions to the public, said the notification further.
The committee has private sector representatives from the Transparency International, BRAC, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Association of Construction Industries, Bangladesh Association of Consulting Engineers and Centre for Policy Dialogue, Planning Ministry officials said.
The Planning Minister will head the committee, while secretaries of different ministries and divisions like Finance Division, Economic Relations Division, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Communication, power Division, Roads and Highway Department and Water Development Board are on the committee.
Officials said the operation of the public-private stakeholders committee has become necessary for two other reasons. They are-ongoing controversy relating to bringing changes in the public procurement rules and monitoring the loopholes in the online procurement system, which is expected to begin by the December next.