Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in Bangladesh and it’s impact as well as future prospects

Abstract

The aim of this report is a critical analysis of Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in Bangladesh and it’s impact as well as future prospects. To illustrate the view the whole dissertation is divided subsequently into seven chapter. In first chapter it has been discussed the background of study, where it is mentioned that in the past few decades Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in different areas including economic, social, cultural, infrastructure to name just a few. In this regard, it is said that a sustainable foundation is laid for a developed, prosperous, smart Bangladesh by 2041, when per capita income in Bangladesh will stand 125000 US dollar (Source: perspective Plan-2021-41). The dream of smart Bangladesh will be formulated on four pillars: Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Society and Smart Economy. To reach the four pillars of smart Bangladesh it is significantly important to ensure value for money. It is important to mention that a paperless and cashless transection in every sector need to be profoundly important for a smart Bangladesh. After independence Bangladesh had a GDP of only USS 6.3 billion. Hereinafter, 38 years of independence in FY2008-09 the GDP of Bangladesh became 100 billion. It is really tremendous achievement that since then the GDP of Bangladesh has Quadrupled, which is USS 460.2 billion in present FY2023-24. The development of the country is being implemented through different development projects which are being implemented by different government agencies’. In present fiscal year, FY2023-24, the number of development projects are around 1491 and a vast portion of budget of development projects concern with procurement (Source: ADP:20323-24). In the second chapter illustrates that e-Government procurement (e-GP) as the collaborative use of Information and communications Technology in different aspect of life. Generally it is said that e-GP is a web-based technological activities which cover the total procurement lifecycle and records the all procurement activities of procuring entities. The ultimate purpose of this technological system is to maintain a complete and up-to-date Public Procurement activities of all public sector agencies and with an aim to provide opportunities to all potential tenderers from Bangladesh or any corner of the glove. Third chapter is associated with the procurement reform activities of Bangladesh. Over the last two decades different reform initiative were taken by the government of Bangladesh. Initially as part of reform activities a permanent unit namely Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) was established in 2002 under Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division in the ministry of Planning. Some of salient feature of e-GP is mentioned in fourth chapter. The vision of the e-GP is to enhance the efficiency, fair competition and transparency in public procurement through the implementation of a comprehensive e-GP solution to be used by all government agencies in the country. Fifth Chapter discussed with the difference between manual and e-GP system tendering. Chapter six is associated with present status and progress of e-GP. e-GP portal was inaugurated on 2 June, 2011 in Bangladesh. From the beginning of e-GP portal inauguration up to August 2023 the number of total registered tenderer in e-GP system is 107569, registered Banks 52, number of agencies 1438, tender invited 7,28,494, contact awarded5,22,649, participants in e-GP training is 31390 (Source: Quarterly Newsletter of CPTU-August-2023). Conclusion and recommendations are mentioned in chapter seven. The aim of this dissertation was to critically analyze the factor on Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system in Bangladesh and its impact as well as future prospects. From the analysis, the following pivotal issues are recommended to meet eGP’s future prospects and impacts as well: ➢ In this technologically advancing world e-GP is a significant breakthrough of modern technology. Prior to decade earlier in our country the practice of manual procurement tendering method was questionable from different aspects including: transparency, fair competition, accountability. Nowadays the practice of e-GP has the potential to ensure transparency, accountability and fair completion. In this regard, it is recommended to government of Bangladesh to take necessary steps to connect all the government agencies with e-GP. ➢ The supply of electricity across the country is not in stable position until now. Some parts of the country the supply of electricity is still poor. The frequent disruption of electricity in some remote parts hampers online works. So, necessary steps need to take for stable electricity supply to ensure e-GP in all government agencies across the country. ➢ High speed internet is a pre-requisite element of e-GP. Although, any individual can avail internet facilities from any corner of the country; but high-speed internet is yet to available across the country. So, it is urgently important to ensure high speed internet all over the country.