The government has formed a ‘Procurement Cell’ in order to bring transparency in public procurement activities. The government formed the cell facing widespread criticism that commodities bought for different development projects are overpriced. Besides overseeing the public procurement activities, the cell would also work for ensuring hundred percent e-tendering.
One of the government’s top ranking officials have been appointed as the chief of the cell which has six sectors has been divided among 27 departments under different ministries. The cell being monitored by the Central Procurement Unit (CPTU) is supposed to work as facilitator between the CPTU and different procurement parties. The government launched the cell under a project funded by the World Bank in the middle of this year.
Sources concerned said that the procurement cell would serve as the focal point of procurement for different government departments. It would be the knowledge bank of procurement for different government bodies. Besides, the cell would also work to reduce the procedural and IT-related complications created in public procurement.
The Public Procurement Cell would also assist in the fixing of laws and regulations, interpretation and clarification of standard tender documents, training of the agency’s own manpower and preparation of tender specifications in the field of public procurement. At the same time, it will provide the necessary support for the implementation of EGP.
Officials said the procurement cell has started work involved with 27 government departments. A chapter of the cell has been formed with five organisations including Bangladesh police, Election Commission Secretariat, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and National Sports Council. An office has also been established at the police headquarter for conducting work.
Public works department, Controller and auditor general of Bangladesh (C&AG), office of the controller general of Bangladesh and food department are running another part of the cell at the headquarters of the Public Works Department in Segunbagicha. Bangladesh Power Development Board, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), Dhaka Wasa and Chattagram Wasa are running another part of the cell in the building of Motijheel Power Development Board.
Primary Education Board, Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Technical Education Board and Education Engineering Department are running another part of the cell in the building of Mirpur Primary Education Board.
