The main opposition BNP yesterday said the amendments to the Public Procurement Act 2006 would let the corruption spread in public sectors and create a scope for huge nepotism.

The development partners also raised objections to the amendments and the nation hopes they (development partners) will maintain the stance for the sake of good governance and welfare, it also said.

"The amendments will bring nothing but misuse of public money, uncertainty in the quality of work and lack of transparency," Dr Osman Farruk, also a former minister, said at a press briefing held at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office.

Former minister MK Anwar and Press Secretary to the chairperson Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel were present.

On October 5, the cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair approved the amendment to the act.

Osman Farruk also urged the parliament and parliamentary standing committees concerned to reject those amendments, which the cabinet approved on Monday.

"Only ruling party backed companies will be beneficiaries of these amendments but many competent and experienced contractors might not get work," he said.

By amending the act's provision to include "less than five percent price proposal than the estimated price will not be acceptable" the government will be deprived of the most convenient services at the lowest price, he added.

Farruk said the present government is busy grabbing public money instead of resolving crises like price hike of essentials, deteriorating law and order, traffic congestion and load shedding.

MK Anwar said the administration would be held hostage by ruling party activists because of these amendments in procurement act and there will be no accountability for the tenders under Tk 2 crore, which will have negative impact on country's economy.

He said tender terrorism and extortions are raging across the country, because of which the government cannot implement the Annual Development Programme.

"The GDP growth and exports also decreased and there is no investment. Foreign exchange earnings by the readymade garment industries have also fallen," he added.