Four engineers of BCSIR invented the new technology after nine-month-long efforts keeping in mind the energy crisis.

Raihan, the team leader, said they converted the existing diesel-run shallow pump into CNG-run one which can also be run by both gas and diesel.

In that case, 70 percent CNG and 30 percent diesel will be needed to run the pump, he added.

Raihan said about 70 percent of the cost can be saved by using a CNG-run shallow pump.

Around Tk 12000 to Tk 15000 is needed to make a CNG-run pump which can run at least 30 hours with gas worth only Tk 100, he added.

Three other engineers of the team are Rupesh Chnadra Roy, Mobashhar Hossain Khan and Ataur Rahman.

Rupesh said if a farmer wants to convert his diesel-run pump into CNG one, it would cost Tk 7000.

The CNG-run shallow pump is easy to carry as it contains a cylinder of 40 litres, he said, adding that there is no hassle while filling the cylinder with gas as the cylinder can easily be separated from the machine.

Inaugurating the pump, BCSIR Chairman Dr Chowdhury Mahmud Hasan said it is an important invention reducing the irrigation cost significantly.

Now the government will have to take initiative to set up CNG stations at field level keeping the farmers' interest in mind, he added.

M Abu Raihan, Ahmed Fazlur Rashid, Dr M Akram Hossain, Quazi Aktaruzzaman and Dr Farmazul Haq were present on the occasion.