Adviser to the Commerce Ministry Barkatullah Bulu has also been removed from the ministry and made adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Altaf has been made a minister without portfolio.

The government gave Water Resources Minister Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed additional responsibility to look after the commerce ministry.

On March 25, 2004 the government made Altaf, the erstwhile home minister, the commerce minister replacing Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

The change has been attributed to the staggering failure of Minister Altaf Hossain Choudhury and Adviser Bulu to rein in the price spiral of essentials and other commodities.

The removal came at a time when cross-section of people are seriously dissatisfied with the performance of the government as prices of some essentials including sugar and edible oil reached a record high.

The price hike of edible oil, sugar, pulse and many other essentials during the last few months made Altaf apparently unpopular, with many alleging that he was not trying enough to bring the prices down.

Another issue that went against Altaf was his failure to protect the country's interest efficiently at international level especially during the WTO meet in Hong Kong.

Before joining the commerce ministry, Altaf, who was then serving as the home minister, also earned similar unpopularity and was widely criticised for his failure to maintain law and order and for blurting out words on crimes and victims from time to time that sounded insensitive.

After he had been made the commerce minister on March 25, 2004, Altaf said, "I have not been removed, but promoted."

Meanwhile, some experts said stripping Altaf of his portfolio might be a government strategy to earn easy popularity as the general election nears. "Since his performance is very poor, it is easy to earn public greetings by taking such an action," said a former minister.

Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury was also removed for his failure to curb price spiral. But the situation did not improve, rather worsened further, said experts.

"The removed ministers are just scapegoats, the situation continues to worsen day by day," said an expert.

Anti-Altaf groups brought out jubilant processions in Patuakhali town hearing the news that he has been made a minister without portfolio, reports BDNEWS.

District BNP General Secretary Snehangshu Sarker, Municipality Chairman Mostaq and District JCD General Secretary Ashraful Alam led separate processions in the town and distributed sweets among their supporters, added the news agency.