Friday, October 28 2005 15:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Bangladesh has expressed doubts about the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) coming into effect from January 1, next year in view of postponements of the SAARC summit.

The postponement of the 13th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in the past has left negotiations about the free trade pact incomplete, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan told reporters.

"In view of the situation it is not possible for me to assure you that SAFTA will come into effect on time" on January 1, 2006, he said yesterday (Oct 27, 2005).

The twice-postponed SAARC summit is now scheduled to be held on November 12-13 in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, security in Dhaka is being slowly tightened for the summit, likely to be attended by leaders from all the seven SAARC countries.

Khan said some parts of the city, with a population of 13 million, would be in a 'curfew like situation' during the summit even as official's sources said up to 30,000 security personnel would be deployed for the event.