Some of the advisers expressed their astonishment, as President also Chief of the Caretaker Government Iajuddin Ahmed did not even bring up the issue for discussion in their first meeting.

Some of them also asked the president when they would get their portfolios, meeting sources said.

The president is said to have told the advisers that they would learn about their portfolios at night, but he did not discuss who would get which office.

"As a part of the team work, I thought he [the president] would discuss the matter with us before making the decision," one of the advisers told The Daily Star.

On the other hand, another adviser differed by saying, "Distribution of portfolios is not that important, as the main objective is to work for a free and fair election."

The adviser stressed more on working together as a team for the objective.