Dhaka September 2, 2025 (Agencies) — A U.S. citizen was found dead inside his room at The Westin Hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, sparking widespread speculation and unanswered questions over the circumstances of his death.
The deceased was identified as Terrence Arvelle Jackson, 50, who had been staying in Room 808 since August 29, reportedly on an extended business trip. Hotel staff, after failing to receive a response from the room, alerted the authorities. Police officers from Gulshan Police Station, accompanied by U.S. Embassy officials, entered the room using a master key and discovered his body.
Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) later visited the scene, but no signs of foul play were immediately reported. However, what raised eyebrows was the fact that no autopsy was conducted. Instead, the U.S. Embassy took custody of the body, declaring the death a result of natural causes.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials confirmed that initial checks suggested no external injuries. Yet, the decision to bypass a post-mortem examination has fueled speculation both locally and abroad.
On social media, unverified claims circulated that Jackson was linked to the U.S. Special Forces Command (Airborne) or even worked as a CIA operative. These assertions, however, remain unsubstantiated, with no official source—neither the U.S. Embassy nor Bangladeshi authorities—confirming any such affiliation.
Jackson’s presence in Dhaka, his extended stay, and the sensitive handling of the case have only deepened intrigue. Local outlets noted that the embassy ensured swift transfer of the body without forensic examination, a move that has left many questions unanswered.
Authorities in Dhaka said they are awaiting further communication from the U.S. Embassy, while confirming that all legal formalities were carried out in cooperation with diplomatic protocols.
The incident comes amid heightened security sensitivities in Bangladesh’s capital, where any unexplained death involving foreign nationals, particularly Americans, attracts attention. For now, officials maintain that the death was most likely natural, though speculation over Jackson’s background and role continues to circulate.