At least a dozen people were detained from a demonstration in Dhaka's Shahbagh today demanding a raise in the age limit for entering government service.

The demonstrators, demanding that the age bar be raised to 35 from the existing 30, blocked the key intersection for about 30 minutes halting all vehicular movement.

Imtiaz Hossain, president of the leading group Bangladesh General Students', and its secretary Sanjay Kumar Das were among those being held at Shahbagh Police Station.

Agitating students regrouped at the main gate of National Museum and were chanting slogans demanding release of their detained leaders when last reported around 5:10pm.  

Ramna zone police's Assistant Commissioner Shibli Noman said police were forced to intervene because the students were obstructing public life.  "We wouldn't have intervened if they were demonstrating peacefully."

The job seekers have been demonstrating for some time to press the government for raising the age barrier. They allege that the education system gives general students "little time" to fight over a civil service position.

Civil service is the single largest job sector of Bangladesh. It became more lucrative to students after the government doubled the salary for civil servants in the latest pay scale last year.