A Selection Board will approve the proposed appointments at its meeting in the morning, which will be okayed by the Syndicate in the evening, sources said.

Today's Syndicate meeting may also approve appointment of 159 other employees, they said.

The recruitment of three teachers is unnecessary as the department is over staffed and some of the teachers do not get the chance to take even one class in a month, the sources claimed.

Besides, the proposed appointment of teachers would violate the University Act of 1973 that bars the Vice-chancellor to 'overrule' the decision of planning committee members, they said.

"The recruitment is being made only to get relatives of some influential teachers appointed," a senior teacher of the department told this correspondent yesterday.

One of the three teacher candidates--Zahar-e-Tasnim Nila-- is the daughter of RU Teachers' Association President Prof Nazrul Islam, known as a pro-Jamaat man.

Another candidate--Asiara Khatun--is the wife of local BNP leader, Chand Mia, the sources claimed.

Another candidate--Yesmen Banu Shampa--is the daughter of Prof Ehsan Ali, a teacher of the department.

Five out of seven members of the department's planning committee objected to the proposed appointments, saying the department does not need any more teacher now.

They met the RU VC on August 8 and demanded cancellation of the recruitment process. They also submitted a memorandum to the VC earlier protesting the proposed recruitment.

The sources further claimed that many candidates for the post of teacher in the Islamic History and Culture Êdepartment did not get interview card for viva voce examination.

When contacted, chairman of Islamic History and Culture Êdepartment Prof ABM Shahajan said his department needs more teachers.

RU VC Prof Altaf Hossain, told this correspondent that there was 'nothing illegal' in the recruitment (in Islamic History and Culture Êdepartment).

The RU authorities have created 159 employees' posts while services of 544 employees recruited earlier are yet to be confirmed.

Sources claimed that most of the 159 people awaiting recruitment are relatives of teachers or local BNP leaders and that they would be taken in on political considerations.

As the news spread on the campus that the Syndicate is going to approve appointment of more 159 employees, many of the 544 employees yesterday gather in front of administrative building and met RU VC and the Pro VC separately, demanding confirmation of their jobs.

Masud Mia, one of the 544 employees told newsmen yesterday that they would stage demonstrations in front of the administrative today for confirmation of their jobs. "We will resist the Syndicate decision at any cost", he said.

Mentionably, the 544 employees staged demonstrations earlier also for confirmation of their jobs.