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These stipulate that the minister or state minister of cultural affairs will serve as chairperson of the museum’s board, replacing the earlier provision for an externally appointed expert.

Opposition MPs denounced the changes as a breach of trust, noting that a special parliamentary committee had earlier decided 98 of the 133 ordinances issued by the interim government, including the museum ordinance, would be ratified unchanged.

After the bill was passed by voice vote, opposition members objected, arguing the amendments would bring the museum under government control. Speaker Hafiz Uddin countered that objections to amendments must be submitted in advance.

Jamaat MP Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman protested, saying, “How could we possibly submit objections under such circumstances? We had not received the bill beforehand and were unaware of the amendments.” The Speaker then announced a recess for Maghrib prayer.

After the break, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam reminded the House of the committee’s consensus. He said the amendments were introduced only half an hour before the bill was tabled.

“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. Today the ruling party has broken that consensus in front of you. This is a breach of trust,” he said.

He also alleged the government used its majority to push through the changes, calling it “trickery and outright deception in broad daylight”.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin asked State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam to respond to the allegations.

Newaz admitted consensus had been reached but said the amendments were introduced by a member and he himself saw those just yesterday. He also offered justifications for the changes.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman acknowledged the allegation was partly true but stressed that any private member has the right to propose amendments, which could be revised in future sessions.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed echoed that the amendments did not originate from the government but from an individual lawmaker.

As tensions rose, the Speaker urged calm. “As the law minister said, there is a remedy if you are dissatisfied. I believe such discontent should not persist,” he said.

At one point, NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah, a July uprising frontliner, shouted from the floor.

The Speaker rebuked him. “Such intolerance will not work, Mr Abdullah. This is not Shahbagh Square. This is parliament. Here you must wait patiently and listen,” the Speaker said.

After prolonged exchanges, opposition MPs staged a walkout, protesting both the passage of the museum bill and the failure to ratify all 133 ordinances issued by the interim government.