"We are now having a closer look at every element...we are scrutinising each programme minute by minute," Foreign Affairs Adviser Reaz Rahman told the diplomatic correspondents at his office yesterday afternoon.

Reaz Rahman confirmed that several thousand security personnel will cordon off all the 12 summit venues as part of the security net, but he didn't give the actual figure of the security forces that would be deployed.

A maximum security surveillance has also been planned along the Bangladesh-India border to prevent illegal intrusion ahead of the November 12-13 meet.

BDR and Border Security Force (BSF) of India will coordinate joint patrolling on the border, BDR sources said, adding that a "red alert" is in place on Bangladesh's borders with India and Myanmar, so that "no insurgent or terrorist can enter or flee the country."

"We had already been implementing tight security all over the country for the two most important events -- Eid and Saarc summit, but the blasts in New Delhi have kept us on our toes," said a senior official of the home ministry.

The foreign affairs adviser also said the government has completed all preparations and brought the entire capital city under strong security surveillance for ensuring safety and security of the South Asian leaders and other delegates.

All the six Saarc leaders are due to arrive in Dhaka by November 11 to attend the summit and all of them will stay till November 13, Rahman said.

The heads of state and government of Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives have so far confirmed to come with their spouses but the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have not yet confirmed it. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga will come alone.

The opening ceremony will take place at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC). BCFCC will also host a cultural evening, banquet and a photo exhibition on the previous Saarc summits on the first day of the summit.

The concluding session will be held at the International Conference Centre (ICC).

Also on November 12, all the Saarc leaders -- Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Maldives President Mamoon Abdul Gayoom, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandarnaike Kumaratunga, King of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonpo Sangay Ngedu will call on President Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban.

The South Asian leaders will also visit the National Mausoleum at Savar to pay homage to the Liberation War martyrs and the mazar of slain president Ziaur Rahman, dreamer of Saarc.

A permanent plaque containing the excerpt of Zia's first letter to the South Asian leaders mooting the idea of South Asian regional cooperation will be unveiled jointly by the Saarc leaders. Later, it will be set up permanently at the Zia Smrity Jadughar (Zia Memorial Museum) being constructed adjacent to his mazar.

The Saarc leaders will meet for retreat at the State Guesthouse Jamuna where they will hold informal discussions on important Saarc issues. A separate programme for the spouses of the Saarc leaders has been planned at the State Guesthouse Padma.

New Saarc Chairperson Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will address a post-summit press conference at the ICC after the concluding session that will adopt the Dhaka Declaration.