Dhaka, Oct 25 (UNB) - Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday hinted that the government is considering ways to ensure eligibility of contractors for public works through bringing changes in the Public Procurement Rules (PPR).

“It’s not that the contractors do not require any experience to be qualified for getting a job of up to Tk 2 crore. It’ll be ensured in one form or other,” he told reporters, after a review meeting on the changes of PPR at the Cabinet Division.

Senior cabinet ministers, including agriculture and communications, and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Economic Affairs were present at the meeting.

The government initiated the review of the PPR apparently in face of widespread criticism, mainly by opposition BNP and development partners, that the rules have been changed to benefit the people of the ruling Awami League.

The immediate past BNP government enacted the PPA in 2006, under which the interim caretaker government formulated the PPR in 2008.

The government recently brought changes in the PPR, relaxing pre-qualification of contractors for a job of up to Tk 2 crore and allowing selection of contractors through lottery.

The Finance Minister said they are considering amendment to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006, which he expected would facilitate changes in the PPR as well as ensure some sort of eligibility of the contractors.

He said the changes are to create new entrepreneurs as well as to ensure transparency and accountability. “We’re not departing from the spirit,” he said, replying to a question.

Replying to another question, Muhith said the government had consultations on the changes with the development partners. But he declined to disclose the possible changes.

The senior ministers are scheduled to discuss the issues again on Monday in an effort to finalise recommendations in this regard for the Cabinet.

The changes would be placed in Parliament subject to approval of the Cabinet, said the Finance Minister.