One of the changes opposed by the WB gives 24 hours to open tender boxes after tender closure, which in the Public Procurement Regulations, 2003 was only three hours to prevent corruption and tampering with the bidding process.

The WB also expressed concerns about withdrawal of a restriction, thereby allowing government offices to procure goods directly from state owned enterprises without open bidding.

Yesterday's cabinet committee meeting however did not entertain this concern, as the committee members are of the opinion that it is not based on facts.

The revised guideline makes way for government offices to purchase through both competitive bidding and directly, the meeting pointed out.

The other amendments approved yesterday are: 1. Allowing government offices to issue work orders worth up to Tk 10 lakh instead of Tk 5 lakh to enlisted contractors. 2. The contractors enlisted in public works sector will now get orders worth up to Tk 25 lakh instead of Tk 10 lakh. 3. In case of emergency procurement, the offices can now float tenders within 14 days instead of 28 days. 4. In local retendering, bidders will be allowed to submit tenders within 21 days instead of 14 days. 5. In international retendering, bidders will have to submit quotations within 28 days instead of 42 days.

On November 3, a meeting of the Planning Ministry decided to change the process of procurement to accommodate a range of objections and demand of different ministries. One of the demands was for allowing 48-hour time to open tender boxes under multiple tender dropping system.

However, the WB vehemently objected to entertaining this demand, apprehending a rise in corruption in the procurement process. In a letter to the finance minister, the WB country director expressed deep concern about the proposed change, saying it might even affect the amount of foreign aid to Bangladesh.