Biswajit Das

Prior to the Green Revolution in the 1960s, rice cultivation in Bangladesh primarily relied on local landraces, which were characterized by low yield potential and undesirable agronomic traits. However, the establishment of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in 1970 marked a significant turning point, leading to steady advancements in rice production. To date, BRRI has developed 113 modern rice varieties (MVs), which now occupy 82% of the total rice cultivation area in Bangladesh. Despite this broad development, only a few varieties—BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 in the Boro season, and BR11 in Transplanted Aman—have achieved the status of mega varieties due to their widespread popularity and high yield potential. BR11, the most popular Transplanted Aman cultivar, produces approximately 6.0 t/ha, while BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 are the leading Boro rice varieties, especially in irrigated areas and haor regions. Together, these two Boro varieties account for 50% of the total Boro rice area. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these three mega varieties, focusing on their development, breeding history, pedigree, important progenies, favourable alleles, and their current status in Bangladesh's rice production landscape.