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DHAKA, Nov 28 (AFP) - The Bangladeshi opposition Wednesday blasted the government for deciding to repeal a law which provides special security for former prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and her sister, party sources said.

The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, reacted angrily to the decision taken by cabinet late Tuesday to scrap the "the Father of the Nation Family Members Security Bill 2001".

The bill allows special security for the two women because they are the daughters of the country's founder -- Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was assassinated in 1975 -- and are still "under constant threat" from his killers.

Fifteen people have been convicted for Rahman's murder, but only four are in jail. The rest were tried and convicted in their absence and are believed to be in the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

The 1975 coup left most of Sheikh Mujibur's family dead, but Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived as they were abroad at the time.

The bill was adopted in June this year by the then Awami League government which was then defeated in October general elections by a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led coalition.

Government sources said "the Father of the Nation Family Members Security (Repeal) Bill 2001" would be put before parliament before the current session ends in December. As the government has a two-thirds majority, it is certain to be passed.

Once the new bill is adopted, Sheikh Hasina will lose any special privileges and will only be entitled to security as the leader of the opposition.

An Awami League spokesman said: "It is an act of sheer vengeance. This will only encourage the killers and endanger the lives of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana."

Ex-minister and senior Awami League leader Tofael Ahmed added: "This is nothing but an act of political vendetta by those in power."

Awami League MP, Mohammad Nasim, said the present government would have to "bear all consequences" if any harm came to the women.

But Law Minister Moudud Ahmed told the Daily Star newspaper that the law was not constitutional which was why they would repeal it.

He said Sheikh Hasina would get security coverage "as per existing law".

The Awami League is boycotting parliament because it claims the October 1 general election was rigged.  

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