A group of officers led by Shamsul Alam, who was assistant personal secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, went to different sections of the establishment ministry at 11:00am yesterday, witnesses said.

But when Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury, assistant personal secretary to the opposition leader along with some others made OSD by the BNP-Jamaat alliance government went to the establishment ministry, some fourth class employees misbehaved with them.

Following the incident, several officers including Alauddin and Abu Alam Shaheed, a senior assistant secretary -- who were made OSDs during the BNP rule met the establishment secretary and informed him of the matter.

"A group of officers led by Shamsul Alam instigated the fourth class employees to misbehave with these officers," Abu Alam Shaheed told reporters.

During the five-year regime of the BNP, these officers were made OSD, harassed and deprived of promotions and postings, he said, adding that they will appeal to the chief of the caretaker government to get promotions and postings.

"I went to the ministry to join after discharging my duty as APS to the opposition leader. But fourth class employees misbehaved with us," said Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury.

Little work was done in different sections of the secretariat yesterday.

It is taking time to start normal routine work at the secretariat as the names of the advisers to the caretaker government are yet to be announced, an officer at the secretariat said yesterday.

Police were on alert at the secretariat yesterday.