Bangladesh News

Online bidding system is going to be introduced on a limited scale in the next two months to make the process transparent and convenient, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said yesterday.

“Initially, some government departments like Roads and Highways will go for online bidding as a step towards building a digital Bangladesh in line with the election pledge of Awami League,” he said.

The finance minister was talking to journalists at his office after Richard Labelle, consultant for the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ project at the Prime Minister’s Office, met him as part of his meeting different ministers. Robert Juhkam, UNDP deputy country director, was also present at the meeting.

Muhith said the Central Procurement Technical Unit is already working to make the online tender process a success. When introduced, bidders can submit tenders sitting at their homes. It would bring transparency in the process, and bidder would be able to see the process.

The minister also said digital system will also be introduced in police department and land registration offices. Anybody willing to lodge a complaint with police will then be able to do so just by clicking a computer button, and no one will have to waste time in the corridors of registration offices.

Asked about the progress in building a digital Bangladesh during the last six months of the AL-led grand alliance government, Muhith said, “We have started work to this end. It is not that we will get instant results since 360 steps have to be taken for this. In divisional cities, ICT (information communication technology) training for government officials is going on.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate one such training programme in the capital, the minister mentioned.

Robert Juhkam said they have noticed the government’s deep interest in building a digital Bangladesh, and they are hopeful that it would be a reality. Digital Bangladesh does not mean everybody would use computer, it means access to information and access to service.

Richard Labelle said commitment at all levels of the government is needed for establishing a digital Bangladesh. Their meetings with different ministries convinced them that the commitment exists, he added.