Dhaka, Feb. 7 -- Bangladesh approaches another election carrying the weight of its own unfinished history. Manifestos have been printed, promises polished, and visions proclaimed -- but for many voters, the question is no longer what parties promise, but whether the ritual itself still holds meaning.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami have unveiled competing blueprints for power as the election clock ticks toward Feb 12, presenting the nation thick documents heavy with pledges.

In their manifestos, both parties outline what they say they would do for the country if entrusted with power. The language is aspirational, the ambitions broad.

Yet beneath the pages of commitments, political analysts see a familiar patt...