DHAKA, Nov 27, 2025 (BSS) - Women tenderers at a workshop on the Public Procurement Rules (PPR), 2025 and electronic Government Procurement (e-GP), held in Khulna today, praised the newly enacted rules for encouraging women's participation in public procurement.

The PPR, 2025 introduces specific provisions aimed at boosting the engagement of women-owned enterprises (WoEs) in public procurement.

Participants described these provisions as highly positive, saying these would increase women's registration on the e-GP platform and enhance their overall participation in public procurement processes.

The workshop was organized by the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) at the Circuit House conference room in Khulna, with facilitation support from the Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP), said a press release.

BPPA Chief Executive Officer (Secretary) S. M. Moin Uddin Ahmed attended the event as chief guest. Khulna Divisional Commissioner (Additional Secretary) Md. Mokhtar Ahmed joined as special guest, while A. S. M. Zamshed Khondaker presided over the session.

BPPA Director and National Procurement Trainer Shah Eyamin-Ul Islam delivered a detailed presentation on key aspects of the PPR 2025, highlighting the provisions that promote the inclusion of women-owned enterprises. BPPA Director Mohammad Ali Ahmed Khan was also present. 

A total of 31 women tenderers from Khulna participated in the session.

Addressing the participants, the BPPA CEO emphasized that women constitute half of the country's population, and meaningful national development is impossible without empowering such a significant portion of society.

"That is why several provisions have been incorporated into the PPR 2025 for your convenience. We are here in Khulna today to listen to your views," BPPA CEO said.

Some women tenderers expressed that they do not want to merely sign tender documents on behalf of their husbands; rather, they aspire to manage procurement activities independently. 

Women tenderers urged BPPA to take initiatives to bring women to the forefront of procurement practices.

The Divisional Commissioner assured participants that the issues raised would be addressed. 

The Deputy Commissioner of Khulna noted that this was the first such workshop in his 15-year service career where he had the opportunity to interact directly with women tenderers, a sentiment the Divisional Commissioner also endorsed.

BPPA has been conducting similar awareness and capacity-building initiatives on the PPR 2025 and e-GP across the country.

The PPR 2025 came into effect on 28 September 2025, following the effectiveness of the amended Public Procurement Act, 2006.