Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has raised concerns about the prevalence of syndicates in government project implementation, calling for reforms to dismantle these groups.
Speaking at a meeting held in the Ministry of Education's Secretariat on Tuesday (November 12), Rizwana Hasan addressed the barriers hindering transparent implementation of 'PPA-2006' and 'PPR-2008' rules in procurement processes.
The meeting was chaired by Wahiduddin Mahmud, Adviser to the Ministries of Planning and Education.
As an adviser to the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Water Resources, Rizwana Hasan highlighted that political and local influences often interfere with government procurement, undermining fair access to these projects.
“There are challenges in government procurement, where party and local influences often interfere. We met to discuss how ministries with higher workloads can address these issues through potential amendments,” she said adding that the meeting did not discuss which contractors would get the work order and who won’t.
“There is a minimum cost set for each project, which should remain confidential. However, this information frequently leaks, allowing contractors to align their bids without real competition,” she explained.
“The bidding process has become monopolised by syndicates, and we must dismantle this system. Today's discussion focused on identifying gaps in public procurement and exploring ways to curb the control of syndicates.”
Rizwana further emphasised the need for transparency in project disclosures. “In past relief efforts, boards would display details like the amount of wheat or rice being distributed. Similarly, for projects valued at hundreds of crores, district administrators should publicly share cost breakdowns with the intended beneficiaries, instead of only engaging selected individuals.”
Additionally, she addressed issues with project timelines and costs, which are often extended to benefit specific groups. “We will take measures to curb these extensions and protect public funds,” she added.