An agreement to this effect was signed between the governments of Japan and Bangladesh in the city on Thursday.

Japanese Ambassador Matsushiro Horiguchi and Economic Relations Division Secretary Mirza Tasadduq Hussain Beg signed the exchange of notes on behalf of the respective sides.

Under the new grants, 20 multipurpose shelters will be constructed in the high-risk areas of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Noakhali districts. Some 37,000 people living in the areas will be able to take shelter at the time of emergency.

The government of Japan under previous projects had extended grants amounting to 2,623 million Japanese Yen (approximately Tk 141.91 crore) since 1993 for construction of 61 multipurpose cyclone shelters in different cyclone-prone areas.