BNP had planned to stage a comeback by forging an alliance with some progressive parties in 2018; only to be appalled by a worse defeat than anticipated in the 11th general election on December 30.
Political analysts think frustration and despair might grip BNP, owing to its worst-ever results in the general election, and the party's failure to break the cycle of bad luck for nearly 12 years since it lost power in 2006.
Senior BNP leaders, throughout 2018, tried to reinvigorate party members, claiming they were returning to power because the majority of the people were with them.
The party, however, only won five seats, while its alliance partner, Gono Forum, won two; plunging party leaders and activists into deep frustration.
Political analysts think 2019 will be very challenging for BNP as its survival in politics will be harder than ever. The party, they said, needs to come up with the right strategy and actions to revitalize its grassroots and strengthen its organizational strength.
BNP began 2018 by failing to hold a rally in Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan, on January 5, to observe "Democracy Killing Day."
BNP was dealt a serious blow when its Chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail on February 8, in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, by a lower court.
After the jailing of their chairperson, BNP waged a peaceful movement and held different action programs for over two months; which did not yield results in their favour.
Later, the party participated in different city polls, but suffered defeat in all the cities, except in Sylhet.
After the poor showing in city polls, BNP took a step to unite some opposition parties and successfully formed Jatiya Oikya Front, on October 13, with Dr Kamal Hossain-led Gono Forum, ASM Abur Rab-led JSD, and Mahmudur Rahman Manna-led Nagorik Oikya.
Badruddoza Chowdhury-led Bikalpa Dhara was supposed to join the alliance, but decided against it as BNP was still allied with Jamaat.
Kader Siddiqui-led Krishak Sramik Janata League later joined Oikya Front.
Before the election, BNP leaders sat in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina twice, and agreed to participate in the polls.
However, BNP chief Khaleda Zia could not participate in the election as she was convicted in two graft cases.
Evaluating BNP's performance in 2018, BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo said keeping the party united, in the absence of their chairperson, was their main achievement.
"Forging a coalition with major opposition parties is also a success. We have had some failures and we could not win the general polls, but we are not finished," he said.
"We will turn it around soon," Mintoo added.
Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed said BNP did positive politics in 2018, with only a few mistakes.
"They faced a setback, early in 2018, when Khaleda Zia was sent to jail; but they tackled the situation effectively. Despite the absence of the party chairperson and acting chairman, the party participated in the election," he said.
Emajuddin also claimed BNP could not properly be prepared for the general election and revitalize the party’s grassroots as it had to carry out peaceful movement for their chairperson's release, invest time in forging a coalition with some parties, and deal with so many cases filed against its leaders and activists in 2018.
He claimed BNP did not lose to Awami League in the general election, but rather, to the administration and law enforcement.
Emajuddin, a former teacher of Dhaka University's political science department, said BNP should now focus on its own organization and consolidate the unity of the party from the centre to the grassroots.
"They must reorganize themselves and increase their organizational activities to invigorate its disappointed leaders and activists at all levels," he added.
Dr Sukomal Barua, a professor of Dhaka University Pali and Buddhist studies department and adviser to the BNP chairperson, said BNP should now clearly analyze the election and pinpoint its mistakes and work out proper strategies and plans to warm up its demoralized supporters and strengthen the party.
Dr Sukomal suggested BNP overhaul the party and its associated bodies evaluating its dedicated leaders and keeping alongside the coalition of its partners Jatiya Oikya Front and the 20-Party Alliance partners.