Does Digitalization Bring Efficiency in Public Procurement Management? An Evaluation of Bangladesh’s Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP)

Authors

  • MD MASUD AHMED Deputy Director, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0311-7824
  • Anirban Das Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Md. Mizanur Rahman Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Rajbari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9396-8226
  • Mohammed Amjed Hossain Power Division, Bangladesh Secretariat
  • Banik Gour Sundar Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36609/bjpa.v32i2.1235

Keywords:

Public Procurement, Efficiency, e-GP, Electronic Government Procurement, Procurement Entity, Procurement Lead Time, Bidders

Abstract

Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) is primarily a public procurement reform initiative undertaken by the Bangladesh government to streamline procurement activities efficiently and effectively by procuring agencies. The study investigated the Procuring Entities (PEs) and the Bidders nationwide. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted among bidders from 64 Districts, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held with different leading Procurement Entities (PEs) to determine the effectiveness of the e-GP System. It has been found that it helps to ensure efficiency in many dimensions of the procurement process. The e-GP System is faster, time-saving, user-friendly, and less procedural than the conventional procurement process. The study also found that the procurement lead time has reduced substantially and increased competition by many folds due to the adoption of the e-GP System. The System has brought efficiency by reducing corruption, costs, visits, procurement lead time and saving public funds. However, the competition in OTM (Works), language barriers and centralised training for e-GP remained as issues. A fully automated e-GP system could be a comprehensive solution to the conventional paper-based procurement process, overcoming these problems and ensuring ultimate success.

Author Biographies

  • Mohammed Amjed Hossain, Power Division, Bangladesh Secretariat

    Joint Secretary, Power Division, Bangladesh Secretariat.

  • Banik Gour Sundar, Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM)

    Program Director, Skills for Employment Investment Program, Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM), Dhaka

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Published

2025-07-07

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Does Digitalization Bring Efficiency in Public Procurement Management? An Evaluation of Bangladesh’s Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP). (2025). Bangladesh Journal of Public Administration, 32(2). https://doi.org/10.36609/bjpa.v32i2.1235