July Museum Bill passed

Parliament today passed the July Uprising Memorial Museum Bill amid heated exchanges and an opposition walkout led by Jamaat-e-Islami, after members objected to last-minute amendments that altered key governance provisions of the proposed institution.

The bill includes provisions designating the state minister for cultural affairs as the head of the museum and granting the government authority to dismiss members of its governing council.

The amendments triggered strong protests in the House and were ultimately adopted despite earlier assurances from a special parliamentary committee that 98 ordinances – including the July Uprising Memorial Museum Ordinance – would be approved without changes.

Opposition MPs accused the treasury bench of breaching that understanding, describing the move as “trickery and outright deception”.

In response, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Chief Whip Nurul Islam said the amendments were tabled by a private member, which was within parliamentary procedure.

Both Asaduzzaman and Salahuddin also stated that, if necessary, a separate bill could later be introduced to address concerns relating to the museum.

The bill was formally moved by Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury during a session presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

The House later adopted three amendments to Section 8 of the bill, proposed by treasury bench lawmaker Anisur Rahman, which provide that the state minister for cultural affairs will serve as chairperson of the museum’s board, replacing an earlier provision for an externally appointed expert.

Following passage of the bill through a voice vote, opposition members immediately raised objections, arguing that the changes would place the museum under direct government control.

Some MPs protested vocally without microphones, prompting the Speaker to remind the House that objections to amendments must be submitted in advance and could not be raised at the point of passage.

At that stage, Jamaat MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman was given the floor.

He said the opposition had not received prior access to the amended bill and had been unaware of the changes, questioning how objections could be submitted under such circumstances.

The Speaker then announced the Maghrib recess. After the break, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam reminded the House that the special committee had reached consensus on approving 98 ordinances without modification, including the museum ordinance.

He said the amendments had been introduced only “half an hour before the bill was tabled”, adding: “Anyone can propose amendments, and the opposition could have done so for all bills.

But there was a consensus that no questions would be raised.”

Addressing the Speaker, he added: “But today the ruling party has broken that consensus in front of you.

This is a breach of trust. If the special committee’s consensus is ignored, then what was the point of forming the committee at all?”

He further accused the government of using its majority to push through the changes, stating the bill had been passed “in broad daylight through trickery and outright deception”.

In response, the Speaker asked the state minister for cultural affairs whether the allegation of breaking consensus was accurate.

The minister acknowledged that consensus had been reached in committee, but said a member had introduced amendments that he had only seen on the day of proceedings. He also offered partial justification for the changes.

Law Minister Asaduzzaman reiterated that while the concern was partly valid, the bill had been introduced based on committee consensus and that a private member was entitled to propose amendments.

He added that the legislation could be reintroduced in amended form in the next session if required.

As tensions rose in the chamber, opposition members continued to protest vocally. The Speaker urged order, stating: “As the law minister said, there is a remedy if you are dissatisfied. I believe such discontent should not persist.”

At one point, NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah, a frontline figure of the July Movement, stood and began shouting. The Speaker responded: “Such intolerance will not do, Mr Abdullah.

This is not Shahbagh Square. This is Parliament. Here you must wait patiently and listen.”

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also clarified that the amendments were not initiated by the government but by an individual member.

After prolonged heated exchanges, the opposition alliance eventually walked out of the House in protest.