Dhaka, Dec. 10 -- Officials and employees of many ministries and departments have launched protests demanding a 20 percent "Secretariat allowance" for all workers at the nerve centre of Bangladesh's administration.

They took up positions in front of the office of Financial Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat after 2:30pm on Wednesday. He was effectively blocked from leaving.

Zahirul Islam, deputy commissioner of police for the Secretariat Security Division, told bdnews24.com: "They have come to meet the advisor to demand allowances and are taking up positions there."

In response to a question, the police official said: "The advisor has summoned some of their leaders. They are talking."

Another police official said, "They are p...