Full implementation of e-GP must for transparency

Bangladesh government is emphasising on sustainable public procurement to ensure timely implementation of the development projects through transparency and accountability to make the best use of public money.

To make government procurement easy and hassle-free, the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) under the Implementation Monitoring Evaluation Division (IEMD) of the Ministry of Planning is implementing the e-GP under the Digitising Implementation Monitoring and Public Procurement Project (DIMAPPP) funded by the World Bank.

Md Mahfuzar Rahman, CPTU director and also joint secretary to the IEMD, made the remarks at an orientation programme on public procurement and e-GP, organised by CPTU for journalists at Mymensingh DC office on Sunday.

Observing that it is possible to ensure transparency and accountability in the tender process as well as timely completion of project works through e-GP, he said, “The country’s development activities are implemented using public money. So, every citizen has the right to know about full implementation of sustainable development.

Terming journalists the conscience of the nation, Mahfuzar Rahman urged media people to publish reports of any irregularity, corruption if found in development works and tendering process.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh Mahfuzul Alam Masum presided over the programme attended by Assistant Commissioner Manoranjan Barman, General Secretary of Mymensingh Press Club Amit Roy and over 50 journalists working at national and local news media.

Mahfujul Alam Masum said “Various plans have been taken for this. More monitoring by journalists is needed to ensure transparency and accountability and timely implementation of those works.”

Md Mahfuzar Rahman said that the government’s procurement policy PPR 2006 and PPR 2008 has prescribed that any advertisement should be published in national as well as a local newspaper.

Urging the journalists to complain to the authorities concerned if any procuring organisation does not follow it, he said, “If CPTU is informed about this, steps will be taken regarding such anomalies.” He said that contact information is given at every project site and if journalists see any irregularities, they can contact them to report.