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DHAKA, Dec 20 (AFP) - The secretary general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) arrived in Bangladesh Thursday amid doubts over whether next month's summit will take place.

Nihal Rodrigo will hold talks with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia during his two-day stay, foreign ministry officials said.

His discussions will cover the forthcoming summit due to take place in Nepal's capital Kathmandu from January 4 to 6.

The 11th summit, which was originally set for 1999, has been postponed several times because of squabbling between India and Pakistan.

There are fears that the meeting could be put off again as tensions between India and Pakistan are running high.

India has blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for carrying out an attack on New Delhi's parliament last week which left 14 people dead.

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

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Shamser M. Chowdhury said the summit would "give scope to ease bilateral tensions" among the members of the organisation, referring to India and Pakistan.

Rodrigo arrived in Bangladesh from India where he held similar talks with government officials.

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