Rajshahi University authorities extended the Eid vacation for the second time yesterday.

The university was scheduled to reopen today. It will now reopen on November 25.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the university Syndicate, held at the Vice Chancellor's office with VC Prof Altaf Hossain in the chair, campus sources said.

However forms for first year admission test would be distributed

and accepted by the RU office during the vacation. Admission test will begin on December 4, the sources said.

The university authorities did not mention any reason behind the extension but campus sources claimed that they have a plan to

complete the process of recruitment of around 50 teachers and over 600 officials and employees during the vacation so that sections of teachers and students can not protest and foil the move.

The fresh extension of vacation was protested by pro-Awami League teachers grouped under the banner of Progressive Teachers Society (PTS). Sources in PYS said yesterday they will begin agitation today with a three-hour sit-in in front of Senate building for removal of the VC and cancellation of the 'mass recruitment'. The agitation will continue till the VC's resignation, they said.

All the 15 residential halls of the university will remain open during the vacation. The authorities took the decision ignoring suggestion by some Syndicate members, the sources said, adding, this will give Islami Chhatra Shibir cadres to keep the dormitories under their 'occupation'.

Talking to newsmen, RU Registrar Prof Abdus Salam did not explain the reason behind the extension of vacation. He said the political unrest in the country is not conducive for reopening of the university.