Govt launches app for e-GP
The government yesterday launched a mobile app to introduce an easy and quick public procurement system that is expected to bring all government entities under electronic government procurement (e-GP) by December.
Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal unveiled the app at a seminar -- Role of Banks in e-GP -- organised by Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) at the NEC Auditorium.
The app will initially be used for information; tender submission, at this stage, will not be possible, said a statement. The app is available on the CPTU website.
It is handy for android devices and users can view tender notices online and offline. It will also have a list of awardees, various legal documents, important announcements, and will connect to the e-GP helpdesk and website.
It has been developed under the Public Procurement Reform Project-II, supported by the World Bank, the CPTU said.
The government has limited resources and it needs to make its utilisation transparent; e-GP has been introduced to reduce wasteful expenditure in public procurement, the planning minister said.
World Bank Country Director Qimiao Fan assured continued support for the government's efforts to digitise public procurement. Confidentiality in bank transactions in the e-GP system is a must, he added.
SK Sur Chowdhury, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, said service charges may be rationalised. He requested all the banks to look into the matter so that it does not become arbitrary and irrational. At the seminar, bidders and government officials said the service charges taken by various banks to place tenders in e-GP need to be rationalised. They face difficulties at the district level when these rates vary significantly from bank to bank. Bank services for e-GP also need to be expanded at the local level, they added.
The CPTU has signed deals with 42 banks in both the public and private sectors to receive e-GP payments against tender schedules, tender security and performance guarantee.
About 2,438 bank branches are providing payment services in e-GP across the country. State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan and Director General of CPTU Faruque Hossain were also present.
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