Dhaka awaits new SAARC meet date

Bangladesh is awaiting a fresh date to host the SAARC summit postponed due to the devastating tidal wave disaster that hit Asia and said priority would be given to India, Sri Lanka and Maldives in setting the new schedule.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit was scheduled to be held in Dhaka for three days from January 9 but was postponed following the

Tsunami in the three member nations. More than 40,000 people have been killed and hundreds are missing in these countries.

Dhaka is in touch with its Pakistani counterpart, the current chairman of the seven-nation grouping to consult member states to fix a new date, officials said, adding Bangladesh was ready to host the 13th regional summit.

Priority would, however, be given to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in setting the new date.

"Considering their psychological and physical conditions after the tsunami, their convenience will get priority in fixing the new date for the summit," Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Morshed Khan said on Tuesday.

SAARC, founded in 1985, includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives.