Dhaka, Dec. 11 -- Tarique Rahman, the BNP's acting chairperson, has called on party leaders and activists to take to the field together to face what he described as an impending "election battle".

He made the appeal on Thursday afternoon while speaking virtually at a workshop titled "Plan to Rebuild the Country".

Addressing grassroots leaders from across Bangladesh, he said: "You are tested; despite severe repression and persecution, you have held this party together. From the conspiracy of 1/11 to the 15-year conspiracy of the last autocratic rule -- you have faced everything.

"Why then can you not face the coming election battle? Your party's plan is centred on the people and the country -- why can you not present it to the public? Y...