Dhaka  - The United States will provide Bangladesh with 4.3 million dollars to construct 24 multi-purpose cyclone shelters in disaster-prone coastal areas, the US embassy in Dhaka said Sunday.

The US Pacific Command will provide the financial support for the reconstruction program, which includes building four bridges damaged by the cyclone Sidr in November
2007.

The embassy said Bangladesh and the US signed a deal for the shelters to be built in in southern Barisal and Khulna divisions, worst hit by the cyclone Sidr, which killed nearly 4,000 people last year and rendered homeless numerous people.

In an emergency, some 1,500 people can be accommodated in each of the shelter centres, which will serve as schools when not needed for emergencies.

The US provided 30 million dollars in emergency food assistance and 6.5 million dollars for non-food emergency relief activities immediately after the 2007 cyclone. (dpa)