bdmetronews Desk ॥ Service charges taken by various banks from tenderers for payments in electronic government procurement (e-GP) need rationalization as tenderers face problems at the district level when these rates vary significantly from bank to bank. Services of banks for e-GP also need expansion at local level.
Such recommendations were made by tenderers, representatives of procuring agencies of government, and also from the senior executives of the banks at a seminar titled “Role of Banks in e-GP” organized by the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation (IME) Division, Ministry of Planning at NEC Auditorium in Dhaka on September 29, 2016.
Other recommendations made by guests and participants include maintaining confidentiality of information about tenderers while they purchase tender schedule to participate in e-GP.
The CPTU has MoUs with 42 banks in both public and private sectors for receiving payments in e-GP system from tenderers against tender schedule, tender security and performance- security/guarantee. About 2438 branches of the banks are providing payment services in e-GP across country.
A H M Mustafa Kamal, Minister, Ministry of Planning, was present as Chief Guest in the seminar. M A Mannan, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning, was present as Special Guest while Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank and Mr. Qimiao Fan, Country Director, World Bank Bangladesh, were also present as Special Guests.
As the highest receiver of payments in e-GP among public banks Mr. Mohammad Shams-Ul Islam, Managing Director, Agrani Bank Limited and as the highest receiver of payments in e-GP among private banks Muhammed Ali, Managing Director, United Commercial Bank Limited, (UCBL) attended the seminar as Guests. Farid Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Secretary, IME Division, Ministry of Planning, presided over the seminar. Director General of CPTU, Md Faruque Hossain, made the key-note presentation about the subject of the seminar.
The Planning Minister said, “We have limited resources and we need to make its full utilization transparently and efficiently.” The government has introduced e-GP for reducing wasteful expenditures in public procurement, he added. Country director of World Bank assured all of its continued support to the government efforts to digitize public procurement. He said confidentiality in bank transactions in e-GP is a must.
Deputy Governor of BB said service charges may be rationalized and requested all banks to look into the matter so that it does not become arbitrary and irrational. He said BB will do whatever necessary in this regard upon consultation. Secretary of the IME Division explained about CPTU steps to bring all procuring entities under e-GP and provide training to stakeholders.
About 300 participants attended the seminar where representatives of various banks suggested a uniform rate of service charges for receiving payments in e-GP. Some of the participants also suggested a range between which banks can take service charges.
CPTU will now compile all suggestions and place before the BB and the relevant authorities of the government.
ref : Shafiul Alam Communications Consultant CPTU
