The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a senior Awami League leader, has claimed that Bangladesh is moving towards becoming “another Pakistan” and warned that the country’s current situation poses security concerns for India and the wider region.

Speaking virtually from Maryland, United States, during an event at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi on Wednesday, Joy alleged that Bangladesh has descended into a “failed state” following recent political developments.

Joy alleges rise in extremist activity

Joy claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is operating with “an open hand” in Bangladesh. He further alleged that hundreds of convicted terrorists who had been imprisoned during the Awami League’s tenure have since been released.

According to Joy, banned organisations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir are now holding public marches, while individuals linked to al-Qaeda have addressed public gatherings.

He argued that these developments should be a major concern for India, saying Bangladesh has effectively become “another Pakistan” on India’s eastern border. Joy also warned that the country could emerge as a future hub for global terrorism if the situation remains unchecked.

He appealed to Indian media organisations to continue highlighting developments in Bangladesh rather than treating them as isolated news events.

Political developments after Bangladesh elections

Joy’s remarks came around six months after Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, secured a majority and formed the government following the end of Muhammad Yunus’s interim administration.

He argued that the electoral process could not be considered fully representative because the Awami League had been barred from political activity and prevented from contesting the polls during the caretaker administration.

Joy questions protest death figures

Joy also questioned the reported death toll from the July-August 2024 protests that resulted in Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office.

He pointed to differences between the United Nations’ estimate of around 1,400 deaths and the Bangladeshi government’s figure of about 800, claiming that repeated requests by Awami League lawyers seeking details behind the higher estimate had not received a response.

He also criticised an “Indemnity Bill”, which he said was introduced during the Yunus administration and later ratified by the BNP government. According to Joy, the law grants immunity to protesters, including in cases involving the deaths of police personnel, civilians and Awami League supporters.

Allegations over arrests, media freedom and economy

Joy alleged that thousands of Awami League leaders and supporters have remained in detention without trial or bail for extended periods, with some allegedly dying in custody. He also claimed that party workers continue to face targeted attacks without police intervention.

He further alleged that journalists, editors and media owners considered sympathetic to the Awami League have remained imprisoned for more than two years. Joy also claimed that intelligence officials attempted to discourage Indian media organisations from covering Wednesday’s event.

On the economic front, he warned that Bangladesh faces the risk of severe economic deterioration due to what he described as continued mismanagement and predicted that future elections would remain tilted in favour of the ruling party.

The statements made by Joy reflect the Awami League’s position on developments following Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office in August 2024 and have not been independently verified.

At the time of his remarks, the BNP-led government, Muhammad Yunus’s former interim administration and Bangladeshi authorities had not publicly responded to the specific allegations. They have, however, disputed the Awami League’s broader assessment of Bangladesh’s political situation.

A petrol bomb was thrown at the ancestral home of former Bangladesh cricket captain and former Awami League MP Shakib Al Hasan on Wednesday night, just hours after he appeared virtually at a press conference alongside former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The incident took place at Shakib Al Hasan’s family residence in the Keshabmor area of Magura town. According to the information provided, the property was also vandalised during the attack.

Attack follows Sheikh Hasina’s virtual address

The attack reportedly occurred at around 8:45 pm local time, shortly after Sheikh Hasina addressed a virtual press conference organised at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in New Delhi.

Following the incident, the Awami League issued a statement alleging that the attack was linked to Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in the press conference. The party also claimed that several political groups had publicly warned media organisations against reporting on the event.

The statement described the attack as a consequence of attending the press conference and accused opponents of carrying out a campaign against Awami League leaders and supporters.

Sheikh Hasina says she will return to Bangladesh

During her virtual address, Sheikh Hasina said she intended to return to Bangladesh in December despite the risks she claimed she could face.

“My return is not about power, it’s about putting Bangladesh back on track of development, secularism and prosperity,” she said.

The former prime minister also said she was prepared to face arrest or even death upon her return, adding that she wanted to be with the people of Bangladesh.

Hasina has been living in India since August 5, 2024, after leaving Bangladesh following the collapse of her government amid months of anti-government protests.

According to the information provided, a special tribunal in Dhaka sentenced her to death in absentia in November over alleged crimes against humanity related to the 2024 crackdown on student-led protests. Bangladesh has since sought her extradition from India.

Bangladesh had sought clarification from India

During the press conference, Sheikh Hasina appealed to the international community to support what she described as Bangladesh’s struggle for democracy and justice. She also alleged that organised groups had turned the 2024 protests into a violent political campaign.

Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and several Awami League leaders, including former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, also participated virtually.

The press conference had already attracted diplomatic attention, with Bangladesh reportedly seeking clarification from New Delhi earlier this week over Hasina’s decision to address the media from Indian territory.