Dhaka, Jan. 28 -- A familiar storm has erupted ahead of the elections, with voters confronting the contradiction between lofty campaign promises and bitter reality.

Political leaders opened with pledges to move beyond attack and blame, promising to focus instead on jobs, economic recovery, and the nation's future.

Yet within days, rhetoric turned acrid.

Leaders took to stages across the country, invoking historical grievances and accusing opponents of corruption and conspiracy, sometimes by name, sometimes by implication.

In Chuadanga and Lalmonirhat, such rhetoric spilt into clashes among party supporters, illustrating how words can quickly become violence.

Analysts note a deeper structural failure: Bangladesh has never cultivated a...