Delay in procurement process hampers timely execution of ADP
Finance adviser says
Star Business Report
Development projects under the ADP (annual development programme) are not being implemented timely mainly because of delay in public procurement process, the finance adviser said yesterday."The delay in implementing the projects deprives the beneficiaries, increases project costs and dents the government's credibility to development partners and people," said Mirza Azizul Islam. The adviser was addressing an inaugural function of a workshop on 'public procurement for secretaries of different ministries and the Planning Commission' organised by Central Procurement Technical Unit at the NEC conference room in Dhaka. Mirza Aziz asked the secretaries and heads of different divisions to do 'advance planning' to complete the procurement process in time. "You have to make an advance plan. You should make a list of machinery, goods or services at the beginning of a fiscal year. You should have a clear idea about projects," he said. "Then you go for tender and evaluate the bids before the government's approval for the final work order." Stressing the need for close monitoring on the projects, the adviser also said, "Based on monitoring you have to take appropriate actions to complete the implementation of the projects on time." He, however, said unfortunately in public services there is a lack of taking actions by the bosses. Requesting the bureaucrats to become role models to inspire other colleagues, he said the bosses can motivate others. Mirza Aziz said there is a tendency of making complaints without offering any suggestions for resolving the issue. He also urged the secretaries to make review of the Public Procurement Act to find out problems. Terming the procurement procedure an important tool, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder said the brainstorming of the secretaries at the workshop will help improve the Procurement Act, 2006. He said if there is any need to bring amendments to the procurement act, it should be done. AKM Motahar Hossain, secretary of Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division of Planning Commission, said the Public Procurement Act 2006 may come into effect next month. Although the Procurement Act was passed in 2006, it is yet to come into effect since necessary guidelines were not prepared.
| 
