Dhaka:The Cabinet has approved the draft of the Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Act, 2026, aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, equal treatment, and open competition in government procurement processes. This approval, both in principle and final, occurred during the 26th Cabinet meeting of the current government, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Ghani briefed reporters following the meeting. The Public Procurement Act, originally established in 2006 as the primary legal framework for government procurement, has undergone six amendments to date. The most recent amendment was implemented through the Public Procurement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which was promulgated on September 21, 2026, to introduce updated provisions aimed at safeguarding local industries and fostering greater competition in procurement activities.
The proposed amendment includes special provisions for new, micro and small, women, and disadvantaged bidders to ensure their participation in government procurement. It also aims to modernize procedures under the open tendering method and broaden the application of the limited tendering method to ensure a more equitable distribution of resources. Additionally, the draft law seeks to clarify provisions related to professional misconduct and introduce alternative procurement arrangements to meet urgent state requirements.
The draft of the Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Act, 2026, has been made available for public opinion on the websites of the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) and the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED). As stipulated in Article 93(2), an ordinance promulgated under Article 93(1) of the Constitution must be presented before Parliament at its first meeting following the promulgation. The Cabinet's final approval of the draft law is subject to vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.