By IINA
Dhaka : The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will start constructing nearly 500 cyclone shelters cum schools in Bangladesh’s coastal districts by June this year. The project is financed by $130 million IDB received from an anonymous philanthropist, The Financial Express reported today. “IDB has almost completed the work-plan on how it will spend the donation in Bangladesh’s cyclone-prone south and southwestern districts,” an official of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) under Finance Ministry was quoted as saying.
The bank will set up 450-500 cyclone shelters cum primary schools in 17-18 cyclone-prone coastal districts and rehabilitate agriculture and fisheries in the cyclone Sidr-damaged areas, he said. Cyclone Sidr, which ravaged the country’s southern and southwestern areas on November 15 last year, left over thousands people killed and millions homeless. An anonymous philanthropist donated $130 million to IDB in January for rebuilding the cyclone-battered districts of Bangladesh, in what is described as the single largest private donation in the country’s history.
The Bank strictly maintains anonymity of the donor due to the unwillingness of the philanthropist. The philanthropist made the donation after the Bangladeshi caretaker government appealed for $2.21 billion aid to the world community for restoring the livelihood and cyclone-ravaged economy in the coastal districts. “Out of $130 million fund, $110 million will be spent for constructing cyclone shelters cum schools and the remaining 20 million dollars for the rehabilitation of agriculture and fisheries in the Sidr affected districts,” the official said.