The Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) has unveiled plans to construct a multi-storied, environmentally sustainable office building in the capital’s Agargaon administrative hub, aligning the project with the government’s Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) policy.
As part of the preparatory process, BPPA organised a pre-procurement conference on Sunday at its conference room on the Bangladesh Planning Commission campus to engage key stakeholders and industry experts ahead of the proposed construction of the new BPPA Bhaban.
The conference was presided over by BPPA Chief Executive Officer and Secretary S M Moin Uddin Ahmed, while BPPA Director Shah Eyamin-Ul Islam presented an overview of the proposed project, outlining its objectives, scope and sustainability aspirations.
Around 30 participants attended the event, representing private-sector builders and developers, architects, civil and electro-mechanical engineers, as well as officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), Department of Architecture, House Building Research Institute (HBRI), Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), Department of Environment (DoE), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB) and the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB).
Among the senior officials present were Chief Engineer of PWD Dr Md Khalequezzaman Choudhury, Chief Architect of the Department of Architecture Md Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan and Director General of HBRI Dr Mohammad Giasuddin Haider. They, along with other experts, shared technical and policy-level suggestions aimed at enhancing the sustainability and functionality of the proposed building.
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The conference marked the first such initiative held under the newly enacted Public Procurement Rules, 2025 (PPR, 2025).
The rules formally introduce early market engagement mechanisms, including pre-procurement conferences, to help procuring entities formulate effective procurement strategies from the outset of the process.
Addressing the participants, BPPA CEO S M Moin Uddin Ahmed said a feasibility study for the project had already been undertaken, with sustainability placed at the centre of the design and construction philosophy.
“Our focus will be on reducing the overall weight of the structure by using a lesser quantity of materials, thereby enhancing sustainability,” he said, adding that engaging experts and practitioners at this early stage was crucial to achieving that objective.
Participants highlighted the importance of developing a comprehensive framework for sustainable building construction rather than limiting the approach to isolated green features.
A representative from the Department of Environment suggested using the term “sustainable building” instead of “green building,” noting that sustainability encompasses environmental, economic and social dimensions.
Commending BPPA’s initiative, speakers observed that the proposed office building could serve as a model for other public-sector projects and contribute meaningfully to the government’s broader efforts to institutionalise sustainable public procurement practices.
They also recommended that BPPA organise a separate, dedicated conference focusing specifically on building design, with the inclusion of electrical engineering experts.
According to them, integrating sustainability features at the planning and design stages would be far more effective and cost-efficient than retrofitting them later.
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The BPPA CEO said a working group would be formed to follow up on the recommendations and oversee each stage of the construction process to ensure that sustainability objectives are fully realised.
The proposed BPPA Bhaban is expected to reflect best practices in sustainable public infrastructure and reinforce the authority’s leadership role in promoting responsible and forward-looking procurement in Bangladesh.