Sustainable procurement in the transportation sector of Bangladesh : case study on the Bangladesh Bridge Authority

Abstract

This report examines sustainable procurement practices in Bangladesh’s transportation sector, focusing on the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA). It combines stakeholder interviews, document analysis, and surveys to reveal that although awareness of sustainability and SDGs is high, actual implementation remains inconsistent. Social and ethical issues such as fair wages and gender equality are recognized but weakly enforced, while environmental efforts are mostly compliance-based. Economic factors like life-cycle costing are rarely applied. Key barriers include limited training, budget constraints, lack of clear guidelines, and weak monitoring. However, donor-funded projects have started integrating sustainability clauses, signaling positive change. The report recommends adopting a formal sustainable procurement policy aligned with the National SPP Policy 2023, strengthening institutional capacity, integrating sustainability into evaluations, and promoting SMEs and women-led businesses. Overall, BBA is in the early stages of sustainable procurement but holds strong potential to support Bangladesh’s Vision 2041, Delta Plan 2100, and SDGs. Key challenges identified include insufficient training, insufficient budget allocations, lack of clear sustainability guidelines, limited supplier capacity, and weak monitoring mechanisms. Instead of these barriers, donor-funded projects have introduced sustainability clauses, creating momentum for change.