Bangladesh, April 7 -- There is something almost cyclical—if not tragically predictable—about the trajectory of politics in Bangladesh. Moments of hope arrive with fanfare, often born out of crisis or upheaval, only to dissolve into a familiar pattern of disillusionment. The aftermath of the 13th parliamentary election was one such moment. Expectations were not merely high; they were existential. Citizens were not asking for perfection, only for a departure from the entrenched habits that have long defined the countrys political culture.

Yet, scarcely had the new government settled into office before a sense of déjà vu began to creep in.

The formation of a government led by Tarique Rahman was, for many, an opportun...