The government has suspended 14 officers and workers of the Secretariat for confining Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed to his office last week to coerce him into approving 20% additional allowance ­– seen as an unprecedented security situation in the country.

The employees were notified of the suspension through separate notifications on Monday, and the matter got media attention on Wednesday.

Previously, a Dhaka court had placed them on five-day remand each for threatening the security of the Secretariat.

On 10 December, the accused led hundreds of Secretariat workers in confining the finance adviser to his office for securing his approval on “20% Secretariat allowance.” The adviser assured them of meeting the demand within a day, but they were determined to get the approval “immediately.”

About six hours later, a specialised police unit rescued the adviser by dispersing the protesters.

The following day, the agitators again caused chaos at the strategic facility and blocked nearby roads. Police detained five protesters from the site, and later arrested more in connection with the unrest.