Level of automation in government procurement at Upazila Parishad

Abstract

Aim of public procurement is to earn the best value for public fund. In Bangladesh, this aim of public procurement is often overlooked by collusive practice and corruption. Bangladesh Government has introduced online procurement; e-GP system to minimize these loss and have accuracy of government spending. At the Upazila Parishad level, e-GP system is practiced only by LGED in all its procurement. LGED is doing most of its procurement in e-GP system. It has found that the other departments at Upazila Parishad level are not fully operating e-GP system. In most of the cases the percentage is zero. Upazila Health of a few Upazila has started online tender. It has also found that there is severe lack of motivation among the officers at the Upazila Parishad level to learn e-GP and operate this. They do not have sufficient knowledge about PPR and e-GP. The tenderers find e-GP system a little critical because of English. There is a new group of professional people who help tenderers to do all the e-GP related works. They are happy with e-GP because this system has minimize bureaucracy and tenderers with no external influence can take part in the procurement process.