Competition in govt purchase rises after new rules

Competition in public procurement has intensified after amending the government procurement rules, with the number of bids per tender rising to 8.5 by the end of last year from just 2.7 three months earlier, according to government data.

The increase follows the changes to the Public Procurement Rules in September 2025, which replaced the previous purchasing guidelines.  

To enhance transparency and improve efficiency in procurement, the new framework made electronic Government Procurement (eGP) mandatory for all public purchases. It also scrapped the 10 percent price ceiling for bids and opened the door for participation by non-government organisations.

The developments on increased competition were shared at a meeting in Dhaka yesterday by SM Moin Uddin Ahmed, chief executive officer of the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority. The meeting was chaired by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud.

Ahmed said registration on the eGP platform had doubled within three months, pointing to growing interest among bidders and wider engagement with the system.

The planning adviser welcomed the progress and instructed the authority to communicate the developments to all relevant stakeholders to build confidence and awareness. He said the current interim government had undertaken a series of far-reaching reforms aimed at delivering tangible benefits for public institutions and citizens.

He described the Public Procurement Amendment Ordinance 2025 and the Public Procurement Rules 2025 as "landmark developments" in improving transparency and strengthening the public procurement framework.

At the meeting, the planning adviser also inaugurated a redesigned public procurement mobile application titled "Public Procurement Mirror (Sorkari Kroy Dorpon)".

The app is now available on both Android and iOS platforms. It has been redesigned and rebranded in line with the amended Public Procurement Act and the newly enacted Public Procurement Rules.

It offers a range of user-friendly features, including updated Standard Tender Documents, offline access to tender notices, contract award information, key procurement updates, direct links to the eGP portal, and access to the eGP Help Desk. The initiative, the planning adviser said, reflects the interim government's commitment to transparency, accountability and efficiency in government purchase.