Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Monday) directed the authorities concerned to avoid procurement of less important items to cut the government expenditure in this time of global crisis. “The procurement of the items, which are not required immediately, will remain stop now,” she said. The Premier gave this directive while chairing the Cabinet meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban. The Cabinet members and officials concerned were at the meeting room of the Cabinet Division in Bangladesh Secretariat. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam, after the meeting, briefed reporters about the Prime Minister's directives on several issues including the collision of Biman aircrafts, project costs and the use of cars. Mentioning that all the projects have already been categorised into A, B and C, he said that the A-category projects would be implemented immediately and the full cost of those projects can be spent. In case of B-category projects, he said, up to 75 percent costs can be spent, while the implementation of C-category projects will remain suspended now. The Cabinet Secretary said if any ministry feels that any project needs to be re-categorised, then they will discuss with the finance ministry and will take decision further. He said there is still scope for overseas tours by the government officials under foreign aid and procurement matters, but other overseas visits are restricted. Citing an example, he said no official can go abroad on a study tour spending the government’s money. In the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister also put emphasis on raising the crops production and careful use of energy. She asked all to exercise austerity in the case of energy and ensure proper use of vehicles– both public and private cars. Regarding Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Sheikh Hasina instructed to specify further the responsibilities of its staffs and make all the on-duty staffs accountable, finding the responsible ones soon in case of any accident. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided Taka 15 crore for the healthcare services of the country's common people, cancelling the allocation of vehicle procurement for her office.   "In fiscal year 2021-2022, Taka 15 crore was allotted for the procurement of motor vehicles of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). But, the money has been given back to spend in the healthcare services of the people at the directives of the Prime Minister," said PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.   He said the premier is giving utmost importance to public health in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. So, she cancelled the allocation of vehicle procurement and directed the authorities concerned to spend this money in the public health services, he added.   To ensure the healthcare services for the people during this Coronavirus period, the premier has taken many steps, including recruitment of doctors and health workers, enhancing health infrastructure and equipment facilities, increasing ICUs and hospital capacity, providing incentives for health workers and free Covid-19 vaccines for the country's people, said Ihsanul Karim.    Sheikh Hasina has kept special allocation for the public health services. "In addition to these regular arrangements, many more people will be benefited as the money allotted for PMO's vehicle procurement would be spent in the healthcare services," he said.    PMO's Director General (administration) Mohd Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui on Sunday sent a letter to the authorities concerned to executive the directives of the Prime Minister.    In this regard, Siddiqui said the Prime Minister has set a precedent of frugality giving Taka 15 crore allotted for vehicles procurement for her office to the healthcare services. Source: BSS AH

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved in principle a proposal of the Health Services Division to procure Covid-19 vaccine directly from any organisation through negotiations without following any bidding process. “The Cabinet body approved a proposal of the Health Services Division [under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare] to procure Covid-19 vaccine worth over Tk 5 crore by applying the direct procurement method,” said Md Abu Saleh, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division. He was briefing reporters on the committee decision after its meeting. Abu Saleh, however, said: “This committee has just given the approval in principle to meet the emergency needs of the state. But when any procurement deal will be final, it’ll come to the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase for its final approval.” He said the approval was given in compliance with the Provision 76 of the Public Procurement Rule-2008. Law Minister Anisul Haque presided over the meeting in absence of the committee head Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Earlier on November 5 last, the government signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd to collect the three crore doses of the Oxford-AtraZeneca SARS-CoV-B2, AZD1222 vaccine. Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Monday said the vaccines, being procured, to be provided free of cost. He said a programme is being developed to select the priority recipients of the vaccines following the WHO protocol. The government will initially provide three crore free doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the citizens of the country. The government will procure the three crore doses of Oxford-AtraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII). The Finance Ministry on November 16 initially allocated some Tk 735.77 crore against the Health Service Division to procure the Covid-19 vaccine. “The draft of a tripartite procurement agreement has already been prepared,” he said. Source: UNB AH