All preparations for the tests have been completed and the authorities have asked the police for necessary security measures, said Students' Advisor Prof Zahid Hossain Milky yesterday.

The authorities also held meetings with the Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and sought their 'cooperation' for smooth holding of the tests, sources said.

Although Bangladesh Chhatra League called a strike on January 1 and 2 demanding arrest of the killers, it postponed the strike yesterday evening following a meeting with the university authorities.

The RU Progressive Teachers' Association (PTA) will stage a sit-in in front of the Senate Bhaban for three hours today and tomorrow and five-hour token hunger strike on January 3 as part of their agitation programme.

Rajshahi Awami League and Workers Party expressed their solidarity with the teachers and held separate processions and rallies in the city.

RU teachers' association and PTA leaders called on RU vice-chancellor and demanded that the admission tests be postponed till the Eid.

Meanwhile, a nine-member delegation of teachers, professionals and cultural personalities from Dhaka and Chittagong visited the scene of the murder.

The team members include are president of Bangladesh University Teachers' Federation AASM Arefin Siddiqui and Secretary General Dr Gazi Salehuddin, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote General Secretary Golam Kuddus, Bangabandhu Parishad President Justice KM Sobhan and President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury.

They called for a united movement against the fundamentalists.