Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.

The Government of Bangladesh is the country's largest importer.  Most government agencies, autonomous organizations, and public sector corporations import directly through public tenders, which are publicly announced or issued to registered suppliers.  The principal government organizations issuing public tenders include:

Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC)
Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla)
Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB)
Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC)
Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC)   
Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC)
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB)
Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO)
Directorate General of Defense Purchase (DGDP)
Rural Electrification Board (REB)
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB)
Water and Sewage Authority (WASA)
Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED)
The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA)
Roads and Highways Department
The Prime Minister’s Office
Economic Relations Division

A large number of public tenders are published in the local media and posted on the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) website.

The U.S. Embassy’s Trade Section also monitors procurement notices and reports significant business opportunities and trade leads through the U.S. Department of State’s Business Information Database System (BIDS).

Notwithstanding efforts to increase transparency, the public procurement process is often highly contentious and widely perceived as subject to manipulation.  Delays, reversals and retendering are quite common as competing firms often trade allegations of technical deficiencies and corruption in the tender process.  While local agents can sometimes help to navigate the challenging procurement process, it is important for firms to be particularly proactive with local partners and vigilant to ensure compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks. Please refer to “Project Financing” Section in “Trade and Project Financing” for more information.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.