DHAKA, Dec 27: The upcoming Saarc summit will take place as scheduled, Bangladesh foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said on Monday, dispelling speculations of the summit being deferred on account of devastations caused by tidal waves unleashed by an earthquake in some member states of South Asian association.

The earthquake, the world's biggest in 40 years and fifth in 100 years, left a colossal loss of lives and property across South Asia, including three Saarc member countries - Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives. Following the disaster, there was speculation in the diplomatic circles in Dhaka that the Saarc summit might be deferred for some weeks.

"The summit will be held on schedule and there is no possibility of deferring the meet," the foreign secretary told reporters at his office on Monday afternoon. He also informed the press that Dhaka had received no request from any affected country to defer the summit scheduled for Jan 9-11.

At a coordination meeting, earlier in the morning, Mr Chowdhury briefed the high commissioners of the Saarc countries in Dhaka about the preparation of the summit. Representatives from all Saarc countries, excepting those from the Maldives, attended the meeting.

The preparation is in full swing and the high commissioners are happy with the arrangements the Bangladesh government has made so far, he said. Earlier on Sunday, the parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of home affairs expressed satisfaction over the security measures planned for the summit.

However, the Saarc envoys were apprised of the schedule of pre-summit meetings, which will start from Jan 3. The meeting of the programming committee will be held on Jan 3 and 4, the standing committee on Jan 5 and 6, and the council of ministers on Jan 7 and 8.