Usually the month long DITF begins in January every year. But the 11th edition of the nation's biggest trade exposition was earlier shifted to February 24-March 25 to avoid security scurry at the 13th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) in Dhaka.

But as tidal wave Tsunami hit three of the Saarc member countries, the January 9-11 summit has been postponed and host Bangladesh prefers February 7-10 for the high-profile meet, the DITF 2005 may need to be shifted further, said sources in Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), organiser of the annual trade extravaganza.

The government earlier deferred the DITF 2005 on security grounds as the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, the venue of Saarc summit, and DITF ground at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar are in close distance. The government was mostly concerned over the onrush of visitors at the trade fair that may pose security threat to smooth holding of the summit at the centre.

"The Saarc summit is and should be the government's first priority. So, if the summit is rescheduled for February, the trade fair may need to be shifted further," a high official of EPB told The Daily Star yesterday.

"We need to give the participating companies at least 35 days to erect stalls prior to the beginning of the fair. So, if Saarc summit is held in early February, we will not be able to start the fair from the scheduled February 24," the official said.

He, however, said though Bangladesh is hosting Saarc summit, it is Pakistan, the incumbent Saarch presidency holder, which will announce a fresh date for the Dhaka summit. After that is done, the government may be able to decide on DITF 2005.

Meanwhile, Malaysia has rejected a government offer to take part in the DITF 2005 as partner country. EPB sources said the long duration of the fair was the reason for Malaysia's refusal.