February February 2 – Giovanni Vigliotto goes on trial on charges of polygamy involving 105 women. February 3 – Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Fraser is granted a double dissolution of both houses of parliament, for elections on March 5, 1983. As Fraser is being granted the dissolution, Bill Hayden resigns as leader of the Australian Labor Party, and in the subsequent leadership spill Bob Hawke is elected as Hayden's successor unopposed. February 5–6 – The team of A. J. Foyt, Preston Henn, Bob Wollek and Claude Ballot-Léna win the 24 Hours of Daytona automobile race in a Porsche 935. February 12 – 100 women protest in Lahore, Pakistan, against military dictator Zia-ul-Haq's proposed Law of Evidence. The women are tear-gassed, baton-charged and thrown into lock-up but are successful in repealing the law. February 16 – The Ash Wednesday bushfires in Victoria and South Australia claim the lives of 75 people, in one of Australia's worst bushfire disasters. February 18 The Venezuelan bolívar is devalued and exchange controls are established in an event now referred to as Black Friday by many Venezuelans (the Bolívar had been the most stable and internationally accepted currency). Nellie massacre: Over 2,000 people, mostly Bangladeshi Muslims, are massacred in Assam, India, during the Assam agitation. Wah Mee massacre: 13 people are killed in an attempted robbery in the Chinatown area of Seattle, United States. February 28 – The final episode of the TV series M*A*S*H, entitled Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, airs on CBS, to a total audience of 121.6 million.
febRUaRY FebrUAry 2 – giovaNni vigLIottO goes on trial on chArGes oF polygaMy inVOLviNg 105 wOmEn febRuary 3 – pRiMe MinisTer of austrALia malcOlm fraseR is GranTEd a dOuble diSsolUtion of bOth hoUSES Of PArliameNT for elecTiONs on march 5 1983 aS fRAseR IS BeinG Granted The dissoluTIoN bill hayden ReSigns As leader of The australiAn LaBor PArTy and in THE SubsEQUeNt leAderSHIp spIll boB hawkE is EleCted As haydEn's SUCcESSoR unoPposed fEbruary 5–6 – the team of a j foyt PrEstON Henn bOb wOLlEK and cLaUDe BALlot-lÉna win The 24 hours OF DaYtONa AuTOMoBiLe RaCe IN a PorsChE 935 FebRuaRY 12 – 100 WomEn pRotEST IN lAhore pAKiStaN AgaInst militAry dicTatoR ziA-ul-haq's pRoposEd law of evidEnce The women are teAr-gAsseD batON-cHaRgeD anD thrown iNto LocK-up buT are SUccessfUl IN rEpealing tHe LAw february 16 – The ash weDnesDay bUshfires iN Victoria aNd sOUth auStraLia cLaim the lives of 75 peOple iN onE of aUstRalIa's wOrST BushfiRe DIsaSterS febrUary 18 the venEzuelan BOLívar is DEvaluEd aND exChangE conTrOls arE esTAbliShed In An eVEnt NoW rEferreD to as blacK FRIDaY by Many veNEZueLans (THe bOlívar hAd been the mOSt sTAble aNd InternAtiONalLy accepted cUrrencY) NeLlIE MAsSAcRe ovEr 2000 peoplE MOsTLY BAngLadeSHi mUslImS arE mAssACRed In asSAM india DUriNg the assAm aGiTATion Wah MEE MAssaCRe 13 peopLe ArE kILlED In an attemPteD robBeRy in the cHInatOWN Area of SeAttle uNIted statEs FebRuaRy 28 – The final ePisOdE oF the tv SerIeS m*a*s*H EnTitLED GOOdbye farewelL aNd amen airs on Cbs to a total aUdiEnce of 1216 miLlion