The Bangladesh Council of Scientific Industrial Research (BCSIR. www.bcsir.org ) was established in 1973 with its head office at the Dhaka Laboratories campus. In 1983, the Institute for Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) was established under BCSIR. The Council is part of the Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technology (MoSICT). BCSIR is conducting R&D in 38 main areas among which biogas technology since 1976. Through the Biogas Pilot Plants Projects ( I 51 and 2nd phase) implemented since 1995, BCSIR also played a very central role in the dissemination of biogas plants.

The Institute for Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) has been the main actor for the dissemination of domestic biogas plants in Bangladesh till date. Other organisations being involved at different stages have been BRAC, Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Department of Environment (DoE), Grameen Shakti (GS), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and Department of Livestock Services (DLS). In total, close to 24,000 family-sized biogas plants of different designs have been installed throughout Bangladesh so far. Due to termination of projects, installation of biogas plants has been stopped almost completely since June 2004.

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In 1972, BAU set up a first floating-drum plant in the University campus to study the characteristics of gas production, followed later by a plant that provided gas for cooking and lighting for a family of six members. In the campus of BCSIR, another plant was constructed by IFRD in 1976, followed by a plant at the KBM College in Dinajpur in 1980. As the construction costs were high and no subsidy available, only few plants (72) were constructed by well-to-do farmers with technical assistance by IFRD. In 1981, DoE started its programme through which about 150 floating-drum and 110 fixed dome plants were installed by contractors free of cost. Other efforts were undertaken by BSCIC (a number of plants), DANIDA (few trench and bag type digesters), LGED (over 200 plants) and DLS (about 70 plants). Also the Grameen Bank installed 17 plastic bag digesters. Under the “Fuel Saving Project” implemented from 1989 to 1991, IFRD trained local youths who constructed in total 146 plants in the premises of well-to-do farmers. The gas holder was supplied free of cost. In 1994, LGED supported the establishment of an ecological village (Amgram in Madaripur district) among others by converting 95 open latrines into family plants.

An important dissemination push was delivered by the “Biogas Pilot Plant (1^st phase) Project” implemented by BCSIR in the period July 1995 to June 2000. In total 4,664 fixed dome plants were constructed throughout the country. BCSIR employed and trained 128 diploma civil engineers who were assigned responsibilities for motivation, installation and after sales service throughout the country. In addition, 898 youths were trained to support the project. The biogas farmers received an investment subsidy of Taka 5,000 under the project. MoUs were signed between BCSIR and several other institutes like BRAC, LGED and DLS for research, training and dissemination of the biogas technology. The cooperation with BRAC was the most successful as this organisation managed to motivate about 1,200 farmers. An interim evaluation report in 1999 reported 99% of the plants installed under the project in operation, while 91% of the owners could meet their household fuel demand through biogas. Bio-slurry from the biogas plants was used in horticulture, pisciculture and agriculture. The average saving per plant amounted to Taka 759 per month (BCSIR, June 2001).

As the 1^st phase was successfully completed and the potential for biogas in Bangladesh considered huge, BCSIR implemented the 2^nd phase of the Biogas Pilot Plant in the period July 2000 to June 2004. The target for this phase was put on 20,000 biogas plants, out of which 17,194 plants were finally realised. The investment subsidy for the owner was increased to Taka 7,500 per plant. In addition to the diploma civil engineers employed and paid on a monthly basis by BCSIR, an agency system was introduced on incentive basis. About 50 agencies were recognised in defined areas (mostly districts) and received a lump sum fee of Taka 5,000 per plant as service charge. About 1,000 masons and youths were trained under the project as well. In 1976, IFRD constructed a family-size biogas plant at BCSIR campus at cost of TK 12,000.

Biogas plant

Lighting in poultry

Biogas coocking

Institute of Fuel Research and Development (IFRD) under BCSIR has installed large number of Biogas plants all over the country. There are 17,200 Biogas plants installed by BCSIR. BCSIR pioneered the Biogas programme in Bangladesh.  Most of the beneficiaries are meeting their energy demand from biogas plants. Popularity of this technology are gradually increasing in the country. To meet 21st centuries energy demand, elaborate programmes have been taken to supply biogas to the door steps of the common people of the country.

Improved stoves

• No of Installation : about 2 lacks

• Type of  Installation :Domes

• Uses of Biogas Plants : Cooking to industrial heating purposes

• Cost of Installation :  -Imp sig. mouth- $ 1-Imp double mouth $ 4 -Inst. stoves $ 28

• Location of Installation :All over the country

• Functional Status : about 70-80%