03 February 2005	Thursday	23 Zilhaj 1425

DHAKA, Feb 2: The Bangladesh government on Wednesday rejected angrily New Delhi's claim regarding the "deteriorating security situation" in Dhaka cited as a reason for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision not to attend the Saarc summit.

The reason given for the decision [by New Delhi], as far as it relates to the security situation in Dhaka, is unacceptable and we reject it outright, said Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We are shocked and dismayed at the unwarranted and unexpected decision of the government of India not to attend the Saarc summit when all preparations have been completed to keep the Saarc spirit and process alive," he said.

All Indian security concerns were fully considered and accommodated, said the foreign secretary. "It is strange that India undertook to announce the decision when the Indian security team was still present in Dhaka and consulting with our security agencies."

Asserting that comprehensive security arrangements were made at an unprecedented level, the foreign secretary said that once again a Saarc summit had been postponed at the last moment because of a decision taken by India.

"Such postponements go counter to the spirit and letter of the Saarc Charter. It is a sad commentary for South Asia that its largest member state should retract its commitment to the charter on this excuse."

With regard to the developments in the region, he said: "There is a shared belief that Saarc should not be held hostage to bilateral considerations." To a question, he said the Saarc chair country (Pakistan) would start consultations with the member countries to set a fresh date for the summit.

Agencies add: Earlier in the day Nepal's Ambassador in Dhaka told The Bangladesh foreign minister that the king and queen would attend the opening session of the summit on Sunday.