Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia Thursday carried out a cabinet reshuffle, relocating the portfolios of three ministries, reported the official Bangladesh News Agency.

Minister of Home Affairs Altaf Hossain Chowdhury was given the charge of the Ministry of Commerce, while State Minister for the Home Ministry Mohammad Lutfuzzaman Babar will become the home minister instead.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman, moreover, has been relocated as the advisor of the Foreign Ministry with the rank and status of a state minister.

President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed earlier Thursday accepted the resignations of Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman from the cabinet.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2004)