Terrence Arvelle Jackson
Terrence Arvelle Jackson (died 31 August 2025) was an American citizen whose death in a hotel room in Dhaka, Bangladesh, attracted widespread media attention and speculation. Local authorities initially reported natural causes, but conflicting reports and the involvement of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) in clarifying his identity led to controversy surrounding the case.
Biography
Some reports identify him as a senior officer of the United States Army Special Forces, allegedly attached to the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne). Other accounts describe him as a private contractor or businessman who had been in Bangladesh for several months on government-related work.
Death and controversy
Jackson was found dead on 31 August 2025 in Room 808 of The Westin Dhaka, located in the Gulshan neighbourhood of Dhaka. Hotel staff discovered his body after he failed to respond to repeated calls. Reports from local law enforcement stated that there were no immediate signs of foul play and that the death appeared to have resulted from natural causes.
However, controversy arose when multiple media outlets reported that U.S. officials arrived at the scene soon after the discovery, secured the hotel room, and transported Jackson’s body and personal belongings to the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka without disclosing autopsy details to Bangladeshi authorities. The United States Army Special Operations Command officially denied that any of its personnel were missing or operating in Bangladesh, contradicting initial Bangladeshi reports that described Jackson as an active-duty Special Forces officer.
This discrepancy fueled speculation online about his role and mission in Bangladesh. Indian social media discussions linked the case to alleged intelligence operations and even conspiracy theories involving an assassination plot against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, it coincided with 2025 United States–India diplomatic and trade crisis.
See also
- United States–Bangladesh relations
- United States Army Special Forces
- List of unsolved deaths