Dhaka, Dec. 11 -- Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed left the Secretariat around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday after being held for nearly six hours by non-cadre service staff. He was escorted out with police assistance.

The mostly non-cadre service employees had confined Dr. Ahmed in his office on the fourth floor of Building 11 from 2:30 p.m., insisting on a 20 percent "Secretariat Allowance" for all staff employed there.

Before releasing him, a specialized police unit entered the office and attempted to disperse the staff using bamboo sticks, leading to scuffles between the protesters and police. Staff members raised slogans against the authorities during the confrontation.

Ministry of Finance sources said a government notification regar...