What happened on February 14th in Bangladesh?

Like every other year, February 14th is being celebrated as Valentine's Day in Bangladesh. As the celebration continues, have we once remembered the day February 14th? Today in 1983, all the student fronts in Bangladesh came out from their campuses to protest the military dictator Ershad's autocratic rule and infamous Majid Khan's education policy. Let's read some excerpts from a few bloggers who have reminded us how shamelessly we've forgotten February 14th? One of the saddest days of our recent history has been silently replaced by Valentine's Day's "World Love Day". Long live our memory resembling a gold fish!

It's just a beginning for Egypt



Photo Credit: The Washington Post

After 18 days of protest, victory finally came for the Egyptian protestors. Hosni Mubarak's autocratic regime has been over as he fled Cairo after 30 years' iron rule. Egyptians are celebrating freedom as they're hoping to begin a new chapter of democracy. They've won the path for "a clean start" (BBC News) towards democracy, but their destination is still far away.  The Washington Post suggests, "...the best way forward is to institutionalize the dialogue taking place today and convert it into a national conference or round- table negotiation between state institutions, youths, the political forces and independent national figures."

Where will be the next revolution?

After Egypt, likelihood of another mass revolution is increasing in the Middle East.  Time publishes a research study on the likelihood of the next revolution under the grip of dictators based on factors such "as press freedom, free elections and civil liberties on the one hand, and the countries' history of repression and democracy on the other". The study will be soon published at Journal of Conflict Resolution. What are the factors that you need to consider that will ignite the next revolution around you?

Amnesty International Met Bangladeshi Leader

Abbas Faiz, the South Asia researcher for Amnesty International, met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 30th in London during her visit. He highlights his discussion with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister about war crimes trials and extrajudicial executions in Banlgadesh. He expresses concern about the extrajudicial executions that undermine the human rights condition in Bangladesh.

Egypt is burning

Source: Al Jazeerah

• Key things to watch now in Egypt: NPR
• Revolution of the People: MSNBC
• Protesters back on Egypt Streets: Al Jazeerah 
• Cairo falls into near anarchy: The Washington Post
• Mixed reaction in region: CNN

Are We Safer?

FRONTLINE presents this three episode investigative report called: Are we safer?

FRONTLINE's series launches with the latest from Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest, who investigates the sprawling terrorism-industrial complex that has grown up in the wake of 9/11. Her report, Are We Safer? -- produced and directed by FRONTLINE veteran Michael Kirk (The Warning, Obama's Deal) -- explores the growing reach of homeland security into the lives of ordinary Americans.

World Report 2011 Released

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released its World Report 2011, a 649-page investigative report. The report highlights the major human rights challenges in more than 90 countries of the world. The press release issued by the HRW criticizes the developed world for taking a softer approach to the rouged regimes.