Minister Mannan: Engage civil society in public procurement

Planning Minister MA Mannan has said that citizens of the country have the right to know information about government activities and public procurement, as people want development and value for money.

"People want development and at the same time value for money. So, civil society engagement in public procurement should be practiced over time but not by fear. Our honorable prime minister wants to let people know about all the government activities," he said on Thursday.

The minister came up with the remarks as the chief guest while speaking at the 14th meeting of the Public-Private Stakeholders' Committees (PPSC) on public procurement.

Organized by the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), Ministry of Planning, and facilitated by the BIGD of Brac University, the meeting was held at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area, said a press release.

IMED Secretary Pradip Ranjan Chakraborty presided over the meeting. CPTU Director General and Member-Secretary of PPSC Mohammed Shoheler Rahman Chowdhury made a presentation on the background of public procurement, CPTU activities, and achievements, professionalizing procurement, electronic government procurement (e-GP) and SDGs in public procurement.

The meeting was organized under the Digitizing Implementation Monitoring and Public Procurement Project (DIMAPPP) being implemented by CPTU with support from the World Bank.

Dr Mirza Hassan of BIGD made a detailed presentation on citizen engagement in contract implementation stage in 48 upazilas, field findings and achievements.

CPTU Director and Joint Secretary Masud Akhter Khan moderated the meeting. 

IMED Secretary Pradip Ranjan said: "We want citizens to raise their voice about public procurement issues. Also, we want your suggestions and comments on the citizen engagement so that we can put up recommendations to the higher authorities for their considerations."

Secretary of Planning Division Mohammad Jainul Bari and Secretary Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Md Moinul Kabir also made some suggestions on procurement issues in the meeting.

Among others, representatives from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Institute of Business Administration of University of Dhaka, Institute of Architects Bangladesh, Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, Bangladesh Association of Construction Industry (BACI), FBCCI, Economic Reporters Forum, Development Journalists Forum of Bangladesh, LGED, Roads and Highways Department and Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh also spoke at the event.

Some PPSC members appreciated the CPTU's plan to make public procurement sustainable by considering life cycle cost, environment, and the needs of SMEs and women entrepreneurs. Some of them opined in favour of having consultation with the community at the design and need assessment level.