Low-cost biogas, an alternative fuel for cooking, is increasingly getting popular among the people in different rural areas of Lalmonirhat. Biogas is not only used as fuel for cooking foods it is also being used for producing electricity. The people, who never thought of having electricity in their remote areas, are now using electric bulbs, operating radio and television thanks to biogas plants. Currently, more than 250 rural families in the district are using biogas instead of firewood to cook foods and to electrify their houses, local sources said. The number of biogas users continues to increase in the district as they find this alternative fuel much cheaper than firewood, they said. Some 280 biogas plants have so far been installed in rural areas of the district since 1997, according to official sources concerned. One biogas plant is enough to meet the fuel and power demand of a five-to-six member family, they added. Ebarot Ali, 42, of village Hazigonj under Aditmari upazila of the district said