Dhaka, Nov. 15 -- In Bangladesh, elections and the countless promises that accompany them have become nothing short of a public farce. Theoretically, democracy here looks beautiful on paper, at least. But in practice, the reality is starkly different.

For decades, election season has meant a flood of commitments from candidates: Pledges to fix roads, create jobs, end corruption, ensure safety, and change lives overnight. As soon as the ballots are counted and the winners declared, those lofty promises fade like morning mist or perhaps like a pleasant daydream that everyone knows will never come true.

During the campaign period, candidates seem to transform overnight. They sweep streets, visit homes, bow to elders, and hold the hands of ...