Police have recovered the body of an American citizen named Jackson (50) from the luxury Westin Hotel in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. Initially, it is believed that he died of natural causes. The matter was confirmed on Sunday night (August 31) by Hafizur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gulshan Police Station.
According to the OC, Jackson had rented a room at the Westin Hotel on Wednesday (August 27) through the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. However, as he did not order any food for two consecutive days, the hotel authorities became suspicious. They later informed the U.S. Embassy and the police.
Upon receiving the information, a team from the embassy, including medical staff, along with a police team, went to the hotel. There, they found Jackson lying dead on the bed inside his room.
OC Hafizur Rahman said, “Since his death appeared to be natural, the embassy authorities submitted a written request and took custody of the body. Initially, we have learned that Jackson had come to Bangladesh for business purposes.”
Concerns over Law and Order Situation
During the interim government led by Yunus, allegations of a deteriorating law and order situation in Dhaka as well as across the country have been on the rise. Recently, incidents of murder, mugging, and concerns over the safety of foreign nationals have surfaced in different parts of the capital.
The problem is not limited to urban areas—unusual deaths are also increasing in rural and riverine regions. According to human rights organizations, in recent months an average of 43 bodies have been found floating in rivers each month. Since most of these bodies remain unidentified, it has become increasingly difficult for families and relatives to locate their loved ones.
Security analysts believe that the discovery of an American citizen’s body from an international-standard hotel like the Westin, alongside the recurring recovery of unidentified bodies from rivers, clearly highlights the fragility of Bangladesh’s security system.
Meanwhile, business circles and diplomats warn that political uncertainty and the lack of law and order are creating risks for foreign investors. They stress that unless security is ensured in diplomatic zones like Gulshan, Baridhara, and Banani, diplomatic and business activities in Bangladesh may face serious disruption.
