Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina flagged off electronic government procurement (e-GP) system in Dhaka last Thursday. In the first phase e-tendering is to be introduced in four procuring agencies such as LGED, Roads and Highways, Bangladesh Water Development Board and Rural Electrification Board. Eventually, 308 procuring entities (PEs) would be brought under the system.
Since 75 percent funds of the annual development programme is used for public procurement, the government has the natural obligation to ensure transparency, accountability and purposefulness in the procurement processes. Its responsibility is basically three fold; first, professional and qualified bidders should have access to tendering process. Second, the procedures should be straightforward, uncluttered by bureaucracy. Three, merit and capacity to deliver quality goods and services should be the criterion for winning work orders. E-tendering could go a long way in meeting all the above conditions.
The e-GP is a single web portal from where and through which public procurement agencies and entities will be able to conduct their procurement related activities with transparency and accountability. For their part, the bidders and tender applicants will not only save time but also have a level playing field.
Previously, a lot of tension would have been created around submission of tender as people close to the powerful and the influential scrambled for monopolising it. This would now be largely obviated establishing transparency and accountability in the system. In the process, it is the government's credibility that will be enhanced with that of the agencies' concerned. Corruption, as a whole, should come down to a great extent.
There have been allegations of irregularities in the government procurement for a long time now. There is no substitute for e-tendering to curb these.
The imperative now is to implement the system successfully. Because it is on the basis of dividends of the limited e-tendering that the programme will be expanded to cover other areas of public dealings.
No one wants to wait indefinitely for a public service that is one's legitimate right to receive, far less a year-long wait for a driving licence. Everyone pays certain 'fees' to expedite the process, one really may not have to know how to drive. They just need opposable thumbs to help count out the cash.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is thinking up a new initiative to help stop issuance of fake licences. BRTA teams reportedly should have been conducting tests for learners and issuing driving licences 'instantly' with effect from June 1. Those passing the tests at about 45 approved training centres would be entitled to the fast-track gift. This will be like 'instant' ticket to roads.
The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the communications ministry to check fraudulence and bring ease in driving licence issuance. People who used to wait anywhere from two weeks to two months can now hope to get the same thing almost instantly.
This may intensify a known problem, if instant delivery of licences turns out to be perfunctory. There are already 15 lakh registered vehicles in the country while the number of genuine licences given out is around 10 lakh. The rest are fake. Of the originals, most may well have been procured in various under the table ways. Lest 'instant licence' mean shoving in instant cash beyond the standard fees, the authorities would need to keep a tab on. Apparently, BRTA only has the capacity to deliver 3,500 licences a year, but the real demand is much higher. So perhaps BRTA just hand out licences like flyers, albeit for a price.
If this new step should make people try and learn how to drive so they pass their test that would be a step forward. May the real issue of actually educating and training the would-be drivers be not lost in the hype for issuing instant licences.
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