Dhaka, April 19 -- Allegations of direct, armed involvement in one of the deadliest episodes of the July Uprising have been raised against former lawmaker Shamim Osman at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

Prosecutors on Sunday submitted a plea, bringing charges against the former Narayanganj-4 MP and 11 others, accusing them of orchestrating and directly participating in killings aimed at suppressing the student-led mass movement.

A three-member bench of ICT-1, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, heard the plea and fixed Apr 23 for the next hearing after state-appointed defence counsel sought time to file discharge petitions.

Prosecutor Abdus Satter Palwan told the tribunal that Shamim was a central figure behind ...