The sudden and mysterious death of Terrence Arvelle Jackson, a serving officer of the US Army’s elite 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), inside Dhaka’s five-star Westin Hotel on August 31, 2025, has triggered waves of speculation across South Asia. While Bangladeshi authorities initially suggested natural causes, the secrecy surrounding the removal of his body, the confiscation of his belongings by US Embassy officials, and his covert activities in the country suggest a far deeper and more troubling narrative.

This incident comes at a time when Bangladesh is still reeling from last year’s jihadist coup, a political earthquake that reshaped the nation’s trajectory and created new fault lines in regional security. Against this backdrop, Jackson’s presence – and his sudden demise – could have implications far beyond the borders of Bangladesh.

The official account: A businessman’s death?

Inspector (Operation) Mizanur Rahman of Gulshan Police Station told local media that Jackson “was in Bangladesh on a business trip for the last few months and had checked into the hotel on August 29”. According to Rahman, CCTV footage showed nothing suspicious. “We primarily suspect that he died of natural causes”, he said, adding that a medical team from the US Embassy was present when the body was handed over.

Yet, the police were not permitted to conduct a post-mortem autopsy, and the US Embassy swiftly removed Jackson’s body and all his belongings from the hotel. A hotel staff seeking anonymity later revealed that several maps, sketches, and electronic devices were among the items confiscated by Embassy officials, along with three large suitcases and laptops.

Only afterward was it confirmed that Jackson was a serving officer in the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), and not a........

© Blitz