"They (AL) have been looking for an issue to create trouble to thwart the Saarc summit. Calling hartal even on the opening day of the summit clearly proved that they don't want the summit to be held in Bangladesh. Image of the country is not important to them," said the LGRD and cooperatives minister.

Addressing a joint meeting of city BNP and its front organisations at the Naya Paltan office of the party, Bhuiyan recalled that the AL had in the past called hartal coinciding with all important national and international events in the country. The party has now repeated its old practice by calling hartal (on February 3, 5 and 6) to foil the Saaarc summit.

Noting that the AL is out to make political gains centring the killing of party leader and former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, Mannan Bhuiyan said, "We will not allow anyone to fish in troubled waters... BNP is ready to face the opposition politically and will go for a series of political programmes immediately after the Saarc summit."

Talking to reporters elsewhere, Fianance Minister M Saifur Rahman said the AL's call for hartal ahead of and on the opening day of the summit is most unfortunate. "We are deeply shocked at the brutal death of Shah AMS Kibria but it does not mean all activities in the country should stop."

Replying to a question, Saifur said, "Saarc Summit is not a matter of BNP or Awami League. It is a matter that concerns Bangladesh, and the government has completed all preparations for holding the summit. It is most unfortunate to create a division in the country ahead of this important international event."